Council approves tasting‑machine permit for Riverside Landing package store

Oviedo’s City Council on May 4 approved Resolution No. 4720‑26 to allow a package store in the Riverside Landing shopping center to operate metered sampling machines that pour small, paid samples on site.

City attorney Mr. Cobb explained that the applicants applied for a Class‑5 alcohol permit classification because the vending machines enable on‑site sampling while the store remains a package (off‑premises) establishment; the land‑use review found the use conforms to C1 zoning, does not require additional parking and is more than 1,000 feet from any school. “This is the very first Class‑5 application we’ve had in the city,” Mr. Cobb said while reviewing the zoning and code findings.

Applicant Aush Patel, owner of Kenny’s Liquors, told council the machines are programmable to dispense small amounts and that in another location his machines are set at half‑ounce and 1 ounce samples. “It’s anything we program it to be. So I think you can’t go over 2 ounces, but even that’s kind of pushing it from what we intend to do,” Patel said. He added customers pay to use the machine (pricing varies by bottle); the samples are not complimentary.

Council members asked staff to confirm there would be no seating or bar area and Chief staff clarified the design shows no bar seating; council members said they saw the concept as a low‑risk way to help a local retailer adapt. On motion and roll call, council approved the resolution unanimously.

The resolution authorizes city staff to finalize the land‑use and licensing conditions required for a Class‑5 permit; the applicant will need to follow the city’s licensing and any state alcohol regulations before opening sampling operations.