Pizza Fusion Petitions County To Sell Beer And Wine

Some would say that a hot slice of pizza without a cold brew to wash it down is not worth savoring. 

owner Ralph Santell, a new Westchase pizza restaurant, said potential customers have walked out with empty bellies after learning that beer and wine were not on the menu.

Located within the Avenues at Westchase and among popular bars and hang-out spots already selling alcoholic drinks, Pizza Fusion is known for its organic pies - as well as for its lack of an adult beverage menu.

Santell hopes things will change soon. 

On Dec. 28, 2010, he applied to Hillsborough County for a permit to sell beer and wine at the restaurant located at 9556 W. Linebaugh Ave.

But things have proceeded slowly. 

A public hearing scheduled for March 14 was postponed to April 11. 

“It’s frustrating how long it has been taking because there are already other businesses in the area selling alcohol," Santell said. "I don’t understand the long delay."

Before opening Pizza Fusion last December, Santell was not aware of the wet zoning in this particular commercial area. 

“There is not an universal wet-zoning (at the Avenues), so businesses have to apply individually,” he said. 

In this wobbly economy, the pizza restaurant needs to be able to sell alcohol in order to stay open. 

Santell expects alcohol sales would account from 15 to 20 percent of the business, if he is allowed to sell it.

“Without it, we will not be able to survive,” he said. 

Chris Brenner, 30, has been a server at Pizza Fusion for two months and looks forward to the application being approved. 

He said that the sell of alcohol would boost tips and possibly double how much he takes home.

Previously, Brenner worked in a restaurant that offered adult beverages in Tallahassee. 

“It made the atmosphere so much better, everybody was having fun and enjoying themselves,” he said. “That’s what we want to do here.” 

Susan Mariner, a senior planner for Hillsborough County, said that the public hearing was postponed because she required additional information for the zoning request.

“It’s not an unusual thing for us to be checking and asking additional things to be submitted,” she said. 

County guidelines dictate that a business selling alcohol within 500 feet of a school must apply for an alcoholic beverage special use distance waiver request. 

Westchase Elementary is located 269 feet to the north, according to Mariner. 

Hillsborough County records show that Pizza Fusion requested the waiver on the basis that the business is located in an established mixed-use development area approved for general commercial uses, including existing restaurants with the sale of alcoholic beverages. 

Hillsborough County has waived the same distance requirements for previous similar petitions of neighboring hospitality businesses. 

Pizza Fusion asked for the support of the Westchase Community Association (WCA). 

The board took a neutral position and is neither opposed nor in favor of the restaurant selling alcohol, said WCA treasurer Mary Griffin. 

Neither Mariner nor Santell have received any particular objections from the Westchase community.

The county’s land use hearing officer will have 15 days to render a decision after hearing the case at the County Center in downtown Tampa on April 11, which will include a public hearing.

And yes, if approved, the beers and wines at Pizza Fusion will be organic too. 

If you go:

A hearing on Pizza Fusion’s application for a wet zoning permit will be held at 6 p.m. April 11, on the second floor boardroom of the County Center, 601 E. Kennedy Blvd.