OLYMPIA — Score a big one today for Vancouver’s Kiggins Theatre and other small, independent movie houses across the state. The state Senate passed, 27-21, legislation aimed at sending these theaters a helping hand in their earnest struggle against giant multiplexes.
Sponsored by Rep. Jim Moeller, the measure:
- Requires that small theaters (those that have fewer than five screens) obtain a license before they can sell beer and wine for consumption inside.
- Requires that an alcohol-control plan be submitted to, and approved by, the Washington State Liquor Control Board. The plan must then be prominently posted on theater-premises before minors are allowed anywhere inside where liquor is sold.
- Requires that all servers of beer and wine attend a training program for alcohol-servers.
- Requires that the Liquor Control Board adopt rules regarding alcohol-control plans and any other necessary control measures.
“I’m elated that a majority of senators recognized the commonsense reasoning behind this legislation,” said Moeller, who earlier this year guided the bill through the House of Representatives, 90-4. “We in the House soon will concur with relatively minor Senate amendments to the measure and send it on to the governor’s desk.”
Kiggins people are just like other small-business folks, Moeller observed, “working their fingers to the bone in search of a decent profit in a world that too often sides with national and multinational corporations.”
He pointed out that there haven’t been any reports of significant problems in Oregon and 36 other states where retail alcohol sales are allowed in small theaters.
“Our business rivals across the Columbia already have a very well-developed market for small, independent movie theaters serving moderate amounts of beer and wine.”
Moeller echoed Kiggins Theatre testimony in House-committee meetings earlier this year, noting that the theater “could really use this new state law in its efforts to continue to spark our downtown Vancouver core.”
Kiggins is an historic, single-screen theater. Although its owner has invested about $250,000 refurbishing it, Kiggins is finding it awfully tough to compete with multiplexes. Moeller said that Kiggins offers a variety of programs, some specifically for minors and others for adults. The theater people would like to be able to serve alcohol at some performances, but current law and regulations say they’d have to exclude minors from the premises altogether. Since Kiggins has but one screen, there isn’t any way for this storied Vancouver theater to offer that option. Moeller’s legislation will give Kiggins some needed flexibility.