Liberty Theatre to serve beer and wine, starting Nov. 15

People who want to drink beer or wine while watching a movie in downtown Camas will soon get their wish.

The Liberty Theatre has received a beer and wine license from the Washington Liquor Control Board.

Starting Friday, Nov. 15, beer and wine will be available to purchase at the Liberty refreshment area.

“We are re-working the concession area so that there will be a beer and wine station on the west end of the counter,” said Rand Thornsley, managing director of The Rootstock Capital Management LLC.

The beer and wine menu is being worked on.

“Beers will be a mix of regional craft brews and some imports,” Thornsley said. “We are going to have a couple of Mill City’s brews on tap, although that might not be ready for Nov. 15 as we are still waiting for equipment.”

Beer and wine will be allowed in the Granada Studio and the balcony of the main theater.

Those areas will be restricted to persons 21 and older.

“The Granada now has new seats with cup holders,” Thornsley said. “For now, we will not be serving beer and wine on the main floor in the main floor of the big auditorium. We intend to remain family friendly.”

During the summer, new digital projection equipment and a silver screen for 3D and RealD technology were installed, along with upgraded sound systems for both auditoriums.

Thornsley was in Olympia in May, to watch Gov. Jay Inslee sign a bill that would allow independent theaters to sell beer and wine. The bill was proposed by Rep. Jim Moeller (D-Vancouver).

Thornsley credited Sen. Ann Rivers (R-La Center) with getting the legislation to the Senate floor and on to the Governor. He has also appreciated the support of Camas Mayor Scott Higgins and the Downtown Camas Association.

Thornsley actively lobbied the state legislature to get beer and wine sales approved for independent theaters.

He plans to open a former coffee shop space in front of the theater in 2014. It will feature ice cream, sausages, cured meats, cheeses and coffee. Food served in the new storefront will be allowed into the theater.

The 350-seat Liberty Theatre was built in 1927 and restored in 1996 after a fire gutted the interior two years earlier. Renovations and upgrades were overseen in 2011 by Thornsley.

The theater is located at 315 N.E. Fourth Ave. For more information, call 859-9555 or visit www.camasliberty.com.