You can sip alcohol and stroll at malls in Illinois & Texas, but California says not so fast

The construction signs advertising the soon to open Tapville Social at the Westfield Galleria at Roseville promises sipping some alcohol while strolling and shopping in the mall, but the generic construction signs don’t tell the full story.

Tapville Social will offer beer and wine to sip, and it will be poured through an automated dispenser by the ounce, but drinking will be restricted to the 1,990 feet location in the second food court at the mall.

State Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control regulations require a control point — past which alcohol isn’t allowed.

“The business cannot permit alcohol beyond their containment area, no strolling outside the licensed area is allowed,” said John Carr, a spokesman for the state alcohol regulators.

Carr said even entering other parts of the food court with the alcohol will not be allowed, and the regulators are considering signs advising customers about the prohibition.,

The Roseville Tapville Social franchise owner Ajaykrishnan Venkatachalam said “it’s unfortunate.”

Venkatachalam said he hopes to open in mid-February but is awaiting final approval from the state regulators and city of Roseville inspection officials.

Venkatachalam thinks the concept will be a big success even though patrons are prohibited from taking their beverages into the mall

He said customers will be able to taste various beers and wine by the ounce, using a pour pass tied to their credit card, before setting on their favorite brew.

“The biggest attraction for me is your ability to not be stuck with buying a beer and not liking it,” he said.

Venkatachalam said he hopes to open in mid-February but is awaiting final approval from the state regulators and city of Roseville inspection officials.

Representatives of both offices confirmed that permit reviews are on-gong but did not offer details.

Venkatachalam, who works full-time as an information technology professional, first discovered Tapville Social living in the Chicago area several years back.

The company had opened one of its first locations at the Fashion Outlets of Chicago near O’Hare Airport in Rosemont, Illinois.

Tapville Social locations at malls in Illinois and Texas allow strolling with your drink.

Venkatachalam said he accepts the fact that California has different laws and he said it shouldn’t deter customers.

He believes the concept will still be popular, particularly since the closing of taproom Gordon Biersch Brewery at the mall.

Biersch, known for its beer selections, was located at the mall from 2010 to 2020. It closed as part of a bankruptcy of its parent company that shuttered most of its 400 locations.

Despite the self-serve alcohol concept, Tapville Social will also employ several humans per shift.

Venkatachalam said 32-ounces of self-pour alcohol will be the limit before customers will need to be assessed by an employee to see if they are able to safely have another drink.

He said the employees, one or two depending on the shift, will also bake sandwiches and pastries using a Starbucks-type oven.

Exact pricing for the drinks and food and hours for Tapville Social have yet to be determined.

Venkatachalam said higher prices will be charged for craft brews than for commercial brands.

This story was originally published January 17, 2023 at 6:30 AM.