By NEAL WAGNER / Managing Editor

ALABASTER – Alabaster’s AmStar 14 movie theater in the Propst Promenade shopping center soon will become the first movie theater in Shelby County to sell alcohol, after the Alabaster City Council approved the venue’s alcohol license request during a July 9 meeting.

Council members voted 4-0 to approve on- and off-premises retail beer and retail wine licenses for the theater at 820 Colonial Promenade Parkway, allowing the theater to sell beer and wine for consumption at the theater or off premises. Council members Russell Bedsole, Stacy Rakestraw, Rick Ellis and Greg Farrell voted in favor of the matter. Council President Scott Brakefield and council members Sophie Martin and Kerri Pate were absent from the meeting.

The theater is a popular destination for residents in Shelby County and surrounding counties, as it is the only movie theater in the western half of Shelby County, and is situated directly off the busy Interstate 65. The eastern part of the county is served by the AMC movie theater in Lee Branch.

AmStar’s parent company also owns the Movie Tavern franchise, which has locations in several southern states and offers bar drinks and a full food menu, but the company has not yet brought the concept to Alabama.

As approved, the alcohol license will only allow the Alabaster AmStar to serve beer and wine.