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The Monona License Review Commission voted to recommend giving the city's only open liquor license to Edo Japanese Restaurant :: The Best Japanese Sushi Restaurant in town. The license goes to the city council next week.
Conventional wisdom says we should hold on to the license for future economic development. The LRC members were influenced favorably by a number of factors. The owners of Edo have invested a significant amount of money and time in establishing their business. They are struggling in the current economic environment and the liquor license will help them stay in business. Currently, they can only sell wine and beer. The restaurant is unique in Monona in its offerings. It is a very high quality restaurant and we need all of those we can get.
Nonetheless, this decision was not an easy call for me and I told them I will need to keep thinking about it before it comes to the council because I and the rest of the council have to consider what is in the best interests of the entire city.
Tuesday, March 10, 2009
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To those of us who know nothing about liquor licenses, could you explain what the different types are and why Edo's desire for an "open" license is a big deal? Or refer us to the proper site to read about it?
ReplyDeleteThere are licenses that allow a retailer to:
ReplyDelete1. sell beer and wine for consumption on the premises (e.g., a restaurant);
2. sell beer and wine for consumption OFF premises (e.g. a convenience store).
3. sell 'intoxicating liquor' (the hard stuff) for consumption OFF the premises and
4. sell 'intoxicating liquor' (the hard stuff) for consumption ON the premises. These places also will have a beer and wine license.
The state only limits the number of licenses to sell hard liquor ON premises. Monona has 18 such licenses.
The legally-created scarcity makes these licenses valuable. There is a proposal to change the law, but the Tavern League will fight it.
So, to finish my point, an 'open' license is an available license to sell intoxicating liquor on premises.
ReplyDeleteAnd when you say Monona "has 18 such licenses" do you mean the city has that many to allot or it has that many establishments currently having open licenses?
ReplyDeleteMonona has 18 total licenses and we currently have one open or available license. They do not become available very often. If the city grants the license to Edo, then we may not have one for new developments.
ReplyDeleteThe law needs to be changed, or we need to bring many more residents to Monona with multifamily projects. I have designed several restaurants, and have run into this issue in other communities. Few, if any, new full service restaurants could come to Monona once we hit the cap because food alone does not make a profitable business, that means Whitehorse would not be able to build one, nor could the East Side Business club's future development, or the trailer park redevelopment, etc.. It is not a good situation for economic development (Glendale, for example, near Milwaukee, is in a similar situation). State government needs to change this rule to allow more flexbility for smaller municipalities.
ReplyDeleteAs much as I love Edo Garden (mental note, have to go back there soon), would they really get that much use out of a #4 license? I would assume that the requests there would be mostly along the lines of Beer and Saki. With the number of vacancies along Monona Drive, I can see why you're interested in keeping it in reserve...
ReplyDeleteMatt, I agree that the state law needs to be changed. You should let Rep. Parisi and Sen. Miller know your views, too.
ReplyDeleteTravis, yes, it is not an easy one. Edo might just not make it without the liquor license (if they still fail with the license, then city is free to grant it to someone else).
So Doug, we haven't heard much about the BSG as of late. What is going on? I see they are still in business even without a liquor license. Is the City Council going to give back their license before the 90 days?
ReplyDeleteTheir alcohol license is still suspended (they are about 33 days in to the 90 days). They appealed the decision to circuit court and filed a civil rights suit as well claiming (wrongly in my opinion) they were being singled out for enforcement because of the type of music.
ReplyDeleteThe did get back their sellers permit from the state so they can sell other things, but not alcohol.
There are discussions about a stay pending resolution of the appeal.
Yes, Anonymous, they are still in business and open for lunch and dinner, even tho they can't sell liquor. Talking to the owner on Friday nite and listening to Sly on the radio about losing their license, they have abundant support from their loyal customers to help keep them afloat while they can't serve alcohol. It is obvious that the City is hoping they will shut their doors. But they will be mistaken come May 10th.
ReplyDelete