Triangle district cafe to pursue bistro license

By Grace Lovins

Daycap Coffee Bar, an existing cafe in Birmingham’s Triangle District located at 930 E. Maple, is seeking a bistro license for a new concept where the business would become Nightcap Wine Bar during the evening operation hours.

Birmingham City Commissioners voted Monday, April 13, to move forward with the business’ bistro application and permit the owner to apply for a special land use permit.

City planning director Nick Dupuis explained that Daycap’s application is part of the initial bistro screening process. He said two bistro screenings take place each year per the city’s ordinance, once in the spring and fall. Two new bistros and two existing establishments are permitted to obtain a bistro license per year, Dupuis noted in the meeting packet.

Daycap, considered an existing establishment per the bistro application review process, is looking to obtain a bistro license for a new business concept called Nightcap. Owners Valant and Shantel Jaddou explain in the meeting packet that the business would continue to operate as a daytime cafe, transitioning into a wine bar around 5 p.m.

Dupuis said the main question for the commission to answer was whether they believe Nightcap’s concept meets the qualification of a full-service kitchen that bistros are required to have per the city’s ordinance. City attorney Mary Kucharek added that a full-service kitchen is undefined by the ordinance and no definition is provided by the state.

The Jaddou’s explained that the establishment doesn’t have grills or fryers in the kitchen, but does have food preparation stations, a panini press, freezers and refrigerators.

Commissioners Kevin Kozlowski and Andrew Haig both expressed some reservations about the Nightcap concept meeting the intention of the bistro ordinance. Kozlowski said he believed the commission was “dropping the ball” on the bistro ordinance, noting he doesn’t believe the concept qualifies as a full-service kitchen.

Other commissioners and mayor Clinton Baller said they were in favor of the concept and were willing to allow the Jaddou’s to move their application to the planning board where the plans will be more thoroughly reviewed.

Ultimately, commissioners voted 6-1 to adopt a resolution allowing Daycap to move forward with the bistro application. Kozlowski was the lone vote against the motion.