MONROE - Five applications came in to the City of Monroe vying for its two recently opened "Class B' Liquor and Fermented Malt Beverage licenses.
The five establishments were Vince's Restaurant and Pizzeria, Kookaburra's Restaurant, Barrett's Brick Cafe, Pancho and Lefty's, and Fiesta Cancun Authentic Mexican Restaurant. All the establishments, except Kookaburras, has a license to serve wine and beer.
Alderman Thurston Hanson, chairman of the License Committee, said he is looking for specifics as to which applicants would do the most good for the City of Monroe.
Hanson wants to know how the Class B license would help business owners increase the number of employees, advertising, while beckoning more people to Monroe and adding value to their property. Increased property value would created more tax for the city.
One license, a "reserve" license will cost the applicant $10,000, but will also make the licensee eligible to apply for a grant up to $10,000 for improvements to the business' building.
Pancho and Lefty's and Kookaburra's are both new restaurants, not yet opened, on the Square.
Laura Winters, co-owner with her husband Joey of Kookaburra's, told The Times that their restaurant business plan has the $10,000 cost for a license built into their budget, and they would apply for the grant.
But without a Class B license, their plans for a lounge adjacent to their restaurant would be defunct.
Jose Zavala, owner of Fiesta Cancun, told the committee he could expand his restaurant to the back.
Each of the applicants were given time to tell the committee about their business and what the license would do for them.
All the owners related that their customers request mixed drinks and that their establishments are not like regular taverns, in that they are providing a different environment and a full dining experience.
Alderman Charles Koch reiterated his disfavor of adding more licenses to the City's list of drinking establishments.
"There has been a lot of talk and debating and giving and taking on licenses. And when we crated these beer 'B' and wine 'C' licenses, everybody seemed to think that was satisfactory and served the purpose. Now everybody want to get the ('Class B')," he said.
"The alcohol industry is pushing to get more license out, evidently. There's plenty out now, people can get what they want when they want it. Alcohol is getting to be quite a problem," he added.
Alderman Mark Coplien said he had "not heard enough" and had "lots of concerns" with the businesses applying for licenses, particularly not knowing the number of jobs that would be created.
Coplien was one of the council members who voted against granting Beracruz, a grocery store in downtown Monroe, a Class A license to sell packaged beer, because the owners had not been in business for more than two years and one of the two owners did not hold an operator's license required to sell the beer. Coplien said he has backed off his desire to have two licensed operators, because the city has no ordinance on the issue.
Alderman Jan Lefevre noted that one of the new applicants had one conviction of drinking and driving.
She also said that when some of the applicants came to get a beer and wine license they were "happy enough."
"Now they are coming because they see there is another option," she added.
The License Committee reviewed the applications Tuesday, but did not reach a decision. Hanson said if the committee would have had more time, a decision would have been made; however, other committee meetings prior to the License Committee meeting ran over time and the meeting had to be adjourned for the Common Council meeting.
All applicants were asked to return July 21. Hanson said he will review each application closer and have "some idea in mind" who would be granted a license, but he will be insisting on knowing what they can do for Monroe's economy.
The five establishments were Vince's Restaurant and Pizzeria, Kookaburra's Restaurant, Barrett's Brick Cafe, Pancho and Lefty's, and Fiesta Cancun Authentic Mexican Restaurant. All the establishments, except Kookaburras, has a license to serve wine and beer.
Alderman Thurston Hanson, chairman of the License Committee, said he is looking for specifics as to which applicants would do the most good for the City of Monroe.
Hanson wants to know how the Class B license would help business owners increase the number of employees, advertising, while beckoning more people to Monroe and adding value to their property. Increased property value would created more tax for the city.
One license, a "reserve" license will cost the applicant $10,000, but will also make the licensee eligible to apply for a grant up to $10,000 for improvements to the business' building.
Pancho and Lefty's and Kookaburra's are both new restaurants, not yet opened, on the Square.
Laura Winters, co-owner with her husband Joey of Kookaburra's, told The Times that their restaurant business plan has the $10,000 cost for a license built into their budget, and they would apply for the grant.
But without a Class B license, their plans for a lounge adjacent to their restaurant would be defunct.
Jose Zavala, owner of Fiesta Cancun, told the committee he could expand his restaurant to the back.
Each of the applicants were given time to tell the committee about their business and what the license would do for them.
All the owners related that their customers request mixed drinks and that their establishments are not like regular taverns, in that they are providing a different environment and a full dining experience.
Alderman Charles Koch reiterated his disfavor of adding more licenses to the City's list of drinking establishments.
"There has been a lot of talk and debating and giving and taking on licenses. And when we crated these beer 'B' and wine 'C' licenses, everybody seemed to think that was satisfactory and served the purpose. Now everybody want to get the ('Class B')," he said.
"The alcohol industry is pushing to get more license out, evidently. There's plenty out now, people can get what they want when they want it. Alcohol is getting to be quite a problem," he added.
Alderman Mark Coplien said he had "not heard enough" and had "lots of concerns" with the businesses applying for licenses, particularly not knowing the number of jobs that would be created.
Coplien was one of the council members who voted against granting Beracruz, a grocery store in downtown Monroe, a Class A license to sell packaged beer, because the owners had not been in business for more than two years and one of the two owners did not hold an operator's license required to sell the beer. Coplien said he has backed off his desire to have two licensed operators, because the city has no ordinance on the issue.
Alderman Jan Lefevre noted that one of the new applicants had one conviction of drinking and driving.
She also said that when some of the applicants came to get a beer and wine license they were "happy enough."
"Now they are coming because they see there is another option," she added.
The License Committee reviewed the applications Tuesday, but did not reach a decision. Hanson said if the committee would have had more time, a decision would have been made; however, other committee meetings prior to the License Committee meeting ran over time and the meeting had to be adjourned for the Common Council meeting.
All applicants were asked to return July 21. Hanson said he will review each application closer and have "some idea in mind" who would be granted a license, but he will be insisting on knowing what they can do for Monroe's economy.