MONROE - One full liquor license that has been out of use since May 2010 may see the light of day in downtown Monroe by the end of the year.
The Monroe Common Council voted unanimously Tuesday to allow changes to the class B liquor and beer license held by ABC Ventures LLC, Monroe.
Hans C. Wampfler, owner of CPP Computers, will become the agent of the license. The licensed premise remains at the same address, 1609 10th St., but its description is changed to a reduced area of the main front floor. The new business will be doing business as "The Bean and Barrel."
The city's License Committee met in closed session before passing its recommendation to the council. The closed session was to discuss the change agent request for the license, "in respect to character, record, and reputation of named individual." The committee was in closed session less than 15 minutes before opening to vote. Chairman Thurston Hanson would not comment on the discussion.
Wampfler intends to remodel the store to operate CPP Computers in the rear of the building and the current partner-business "The Koffee Bean," which will get the name change, in the front. CPP Computers and The Koffee Bean are currently located at 611 8th Ave.
Joey and Laura Winters, of ABC Ventures LLC, intended to start a pub and grill business at the location. By way of an agreement between Pizza Hut and ABC Ventures in May 2010, Pizza Hut relinquished its full Class B license and applied for a Class B Restaurant Fermented Malt Beverage license and a Class C wine license, but only with the stipulation that the full Class B license be granted to ABC Ventures.
At the time, attorney Todd Schluesche, representing both Jim Williams, Pizza Hut of Southern Wisconsin, Inc. chief operating officer, and the Winters, said the license was an integral part of the Winters' plan to open the restaurant and lounge business.
The council granted Winters the full class B license, allowing them to serve drinks and beer by the glass in their Northside Pub and Grill, which had not yet opened.
According the city liquor license ordinance, the Winters had six months before they had to take possession of the license, and the business could be closed for a maximum of 120 consecutive days in the year, giving them a maximum of about 10 months to ready their business, or lose the license.
The Winters opted to wait until Nov. 15, 2010, to take possession of the license.
This February, the Revolving Loan Fund Committee approved its first direct loan - without a bank participating, for $50,000 to ABC Ventures for the Northside Pub and Grill. The loan was to finance equipment and working capital.
However, the Common Council sent the loan back to the Revolving Loan Fund for review, with a request that Mayor Bill Ross appoint two more members to the three-member committee.
On March 1, the Common Council gave some breathing room to the Winters, who were in danger of missing their 120-day deadline, allowing the new business to keep its liquor license while awaiting the outcome of the loan review. The License Committee recommended setting the variance for 12 months, which passed unanimously at council.
Nine days later, the loan application failed to get a majority of votes from the five-member Revolving Loan Fund Committee, which split the vote, 2 to 2, with one abstention.
Remodeling on the interior of the building at 1609 10th Avenue has begun and is expected to be finished by the end of the year. Wampfler declined an interview until all permits and licenses were issued, assuring him the businesses would, in fact, be relocating there.
Repeated calls to the Winters for comment were not returned.
The Monroe Common Council voted unanimously Tuesday to allow changes to the class B liquor and beer license held by ABC Ventures LLC, Monroe.
Hans C. Wampfler, owner of CPP Computers, will become the agent of the license. The licensed premise remains at the same address, 1609 10th St., but its description is changed to a reduced area of the main front floor. The new business will be doing business as "The Bean and Barrel."
The city's License Committee met in closed session before passing its recommendation to the council. The closed session was to discuss the change agent request for the license, "in respect to character, record, and reputation of named individual." The committee was in closed session less than 15 minutes before opening to vote. Chairman Thurston Hanson would not comment on the discussion.
Wampfler intends to remodel the store to operate CPP Computers in the rear of the building and the current partner-business "The Koffee Bean," which will get the name change, in the front. CPP Computers and The Koffee Bean are currently located at 611 8th Ave.
Joey and Laura Winters, of ABC Ventures LLC, intended to start a pub and grill business at the location. By way of an agreement between Pizza Hut and ABC Ventures in May 2010, Pizza Hut relinquished its full Class B license and applied for a Class B Restaurant Fermented Malt Beverage license and a Class C wine license, but only with the stipulation that the full Class B license be granted to ABC Ventures.
At the time, attorney Todd Schluesche, representing both Jim Williams, Pizza Hut of Southern Wisconsin, Inc. chief operating officer, and the Winters, said the license was an integral part of the Winters' plan to open the restaurant and lounge business.
The council granted Winters the full class B license, allowing them to serve drinks and beer by the glass in their Northside Pub and Grill, which had not yet opened.
According the city liquor license ordinance, the Winters had six months before they had to take possession of the license, and the business could be closed for a maximum of 120 consecutive days in the year, giving them a maximum of about 10 months to ready their business, or lose the license.
The Winters opted to wait until Nov. 15, 2010, to take possession of the license.
This February, the Revolving Loan Fund Committee approved its first direct loan - without a bank participating, for $50,000 to ABC Ventures for the Northside Pub and Grill. The loan was to finance equipment and working capital.
However, the Common Council sent the loan back to the Revolving Loan Fund for review, with a request that Mayor Bill Ross appoint two more members to the three-member committee.
On March 1, the Common Council gave some breathing room to the Winters, who were in danger of missing their 120-day deadline, allowing the new business to keep its liquor license while awaiting the outcome of the loan review. The License Committee recommended setting the variance for 12 months, which passed unanimously at council.
Nine days later, the loan application failed to get a majority of votes from the five-member Revolving Loan Fund Committee, which split the vote, 2 to 2, with one abstention.
Remodeling on the interior of the building at 1609 10th Avenue has begun and is expected to be finished by the end of the year. Wampfler declined an interview until all permits and licenses were issued, assuring him the businesses would, in fact, be relocating there.
Repeated calls to the Winters for comment were not returned.