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Why is Dr. J's Vibrant Cafe Seeking a Beer & Wine License?

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Photo by <a href="http://www.elizabethdanielsphotography.com">Elizabeth Daniels</a>
Photo by Elizabeth Daniels
Matthew Kang is the Lead Editor of Eater LA. He has covered dining, restaurants, food culture, and nightlife in Los Angeles since 2008. He's the host of K-Town, a YouTube series covering Korean food in America, and has been featured in Netflix's Street Food show.

Many plant-based, holistic eating facilities have sprouted across the city, from salad spots to raw/vegan type of places that tout nutritious food without eschewing flavor. Many of them serve alcohol, and even make fantastic drinks, like Crossroads and Gracias Madre. But when Dr. J's Vibrant Cafe, an eatery that religiously follows "as strictly as possible the principles of no sugar, dairy, wheat, yeast, alcohol, caffeine, nicotine and chemicals," as their mantra, it's puzzling that management would apply for a 41 license to serve beer and wine.

A quick answer would be that liquor allows a restaurant to remain profitable. But, perhaps the empty tables indicates that the owners need to create value in the place before selling off to another operator.

Dr. J's still has the option of selling beer and wine and modifying their mission statement, which also is vegan, macrobiotic, gluten-free, and 100% "clean." Perhaps in the Downtown restaurant scene, a business must depend on alcohol sales to stay afloat. What Dr. J's plans to do with their license, should they acquire one, is the real question. Maybe kombucha cocktails?
·All Dr. J's Vibrant Cafe [~ELA~]

Dr. J's Vibrant Cafe

334 S Main Street, Los Angeles, CA 90013