Beginning next month, Pix Theater moviegoers in downtown Albany may be able to buy local wines and microbrews during evening showings and at special events.

The Albany City Council on Monday voted 6-0 to support a liquor license application allowing owners Jeff and Robin Mexico to sell beer and wine.

Granting the license is up to the Oregon Liquor Control Commission.

Recommendation for approval came from police Chief Ed Boyd following a background and criminal history check on the applicants.

Mexico told the Democrat-Herald that when wine and beer become part of the menu in January, movies that start at 7:30 p.m. will be for the 21 and older crowd only. Before 7:30 p.m., all ages will be welcome at the theater and no alcohol will be served.

In the past, Mexico said, the theater has presented special shows at which wine from the Wine Depot was served.

"That was always such a big hit we decided to get our own license and make our theater even more special and unique than it already is," he said.

There will be times when the theater hosts family-friendly events in the evening. At those times, the Mexicos will either not serve alcohol or will serve it but not allow it the auditorium.

"It is our choice not to allow minors in after a certain time, not the state," Jeff Mexico said. "We just want to ensure no minors are able to get alcohol from their 21-year-old friends in the dark of the auditorium. We don't want to worry about those types of situations."

In Salem, the Northern Lights second-showing theater serves beer and wine. So do some McMenamin theaters in Oregon and Washington.

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