Seafood City entertainment gets green light in East Valley
Courtesy of city of Chandler
This diagram shows the southwest corner of the Chandler Fashion Center, where Seafood City is poised to get use and entertainment permits for its social hall and its newly opened supermarket and food hall on the southwest side of the mall. Seafood City plans late-night karaoke, open-mic nights and small acoustic music performances in the social hall.
The Chandler business that held one of the most crowded grand-opening events of the year in July has been recommended for a permit for the next phase of its business.
The city’s Planning and Zoning Commission unanimously approved a consent agenda Aug. 19 that included recommendations the City Council approve Seafood City’s applications for a use permit for a Series 6 bar liquor license and an entertainment use permit.
Seafood City is the supermarket, Filipino-inspired cuisine dining hall and more that opened in July on the southwest side of the Chandler Fashion Center, above the Round1 Bowling and Arcade, with City Council and other local leaders and a huge crowd there on opening day.
The 300-seat dining hall is in addition to a 1,920-square-foot social hall to be used as a community gathering space, a staff report states. Seafood City expects to host a variety of activities in and around the food hall and social hall.
Seafood City stated, on its application, activities include “Late Night Madness” events with deejays and karaoke, in addition to a variety of other types of indoor entertainment in the social hall, such as cultural performances, live acoustic music, small musical performances and open-mic nights.
The typical hours and days of these events will be Friday and Saturday nights from 9 p.m. to midnight, with Seafood City’s grocery store remaining open during all events.
Seafood City will also apply for an Arizona Series 6 liquor license to allow guests 21 and over the opportunity to purchase alcohol for on-site consumption.
During the Aug. 19 study session on the permits, Commissioner Dan Gauthier asked planner Taylor Manemann what time the Chandler Fashion Center closes, which is 9 p.m. Mondays through Saturdays and 6 p.m. Sundays.
Manemann said Seafood City has its own separate entrance and exit into the Fashion Center’s southwest parking lot, meaning Seafood City foot traffic won’t be inside the mall when most stores are closed.
Commissioner Tom Blisten asked if the 600-foot perimeter requirement for notification and soliciting feedback on the permits meant homes and the neighborhood west of Chandler Village Drive were notified. Manemann said yes, it was, because the 600-foot perimeter is measured from the exterior wall of Seafood City.
“I think that’s great that we didn’t get any negative feedback,” Blisten said. “And I think what Seafood City is doing here is really creative. You don’t typically see much energy in a grocery store between 10 p.m. and midnight.”
A neighborhood meeting was held on August 13, with no opposition voiced, staff reports state.
Council is likely to have the permits on a September regular meeting agenda for approval.
Jason W. Brooks News Editor | Chandler Independent
Jason W. Brooks joined Independent Newsmedia, Inc., USA, in July 2021 as an associate editor. After a year covering Buckeye, he has covered Chandler since the fall of 2022, in addition to assisting the Daily Independent throughout his time at INI.
Education: University of New Mexico, bachelor of arts in journalism and mass communication, print emphasis, English minor.
Random Fact: He and his siblings witnessed a Space Shuttle launch and landing in the same year in person, on opposite coasts.
Hobbies: Karaoke, bicycling and American Sign Language.
By 
Comments
No comments on this item Please log in to comment by clicking here