The site of the former Polly’s Pies near the Long Beach Traffic Circle could soon become a small-format grocery store after the Planning Commission voted unanimously Thursday night to approve a conditional use permit for alcohol sales there.

The future tenant of 4680 East Los Coyotes Diagonal is described as an upscale convenience market, but city officials say it will operate more like a grocery store because it will sell daily essentials in addition to alcohol and prepared foods.

What the future tenant will be is unclear. City officials say the applicant hasn’t revealed what brand of store will open at the old Polly’s location, and a representative for the applicant was not immediately available for comment.

While the vote approved alcohol sales for off-site consumption for the future grocer, the site will not be a liquor store. It’s expected to have a hot-food preparation area, a bakery and a dining section for patrons to eat on-site.

The former Polly’s, located at the corner of Los Coyotes Diagonal and Ximeno Avenue, is being split up into two new businesses. The grocery store will occupy the front part of the building along Los Coyotes, and an undisclosed tenant will fill the unit between the grocer and a Dave’s Hot Chicken that is slated to open in early 2023.

Some requirements that the grocery must meet under the conditional use permit approved by the commission will limit the sizes of certain alcohol products sold and the quantities they’re allowed to be sold in. Once the new grocer opens, which hasn’t been announced, alcohol sales will have to end by midnight, according to the conditions set by the city.