HomeMy WebLinkAboutLiquor Licensing Authority - Minutes - 09/03/2015LIQUOR LICENSING AUTHORITY MINUTES
Regular Meeting, September 3, 2015
1:00 P.M.
Staff Liaison: Aimee Jensen
A regular meeting of the Liquor Licensing Authority was held September 3, 2015 in Municipal Court,
215 North Mason. Judge Kathleen M. Lane presiding.
Staff in attendance: Bronwyn Scurlock, Assistant City Attorney
Matt Hahn, Liquor Enforcement Officer
Aimee Jensen, Deputy City Clerk
Registration of Dirk Bruley as
Manager of Red Robin Gourmet Burgers & Spirits Emporium,
701 East Harmony Road, Approved
Dirk Bruley, manager applicant, stated he has been registered as the manager at previous locations. He
stated any employee found in violation of the liquor code is immediately terminated. In response to a
question from the Authority, Mr. Bruley described the training all employees are required to complete
prior to being able to serve alcohol. He stated a manager must be involved in any sale where a patron
presents a vertical id. Mr. Bruley stated any employee found in violation of the liquor code will be
immediately terminated.
Judge Lane approved the registration of Dirk Bruley as manager of Red Robin Gourmet Burgers &
Spirits Emporium, 701 East Harmony Road.
Hearing on a New Application from Fusion Enterprises, LLC,
for a hotel -restaurant liquor license at Fusion Enterprise,
351 Linden Street, #140, Approved
Gretel Balmer and Kevin Byrd, representatives for Fusion Enterprise, Inc., were sworn. Ms. Balmer
stated they will be open in the evening as a night club with a menu with small plate meals to be available
when they are open. She stated their occupancy is being reviewed, which will be finalized by Poudre Fire
Authority. Ms. Balmer stated she will require all employees to be Sery Safe certified and that any
employee found in violation of the liquor code will be immediately terminated.
Kevin Byrd briefly described the petitioning process. He stated they received many supportive
comments.
September 3, 20..15
Judge Lane adopted Resolution 015-024 approving the hotel -restaurant liquor license application from
Fusion Enterprises, LLC, for a hotel -restaurant liquor license at Fusion Enterprises, 351 Linden Street,
#140.
Hearing on a New Application from Art Without Limits, LLC,
for a beer and wine license at Painting with a Twist,
1112 Oakridge Drive, Suite 107, Approved
Rebecca Moss and Starla Steinbach, representatives for Art Without Limits, LLC, was sworn. Ms.
Steinbach stated that anyone who appears to be under the age of 40 is required to provide valid
identification. She stated all employees, including the artists, will be required to be SafeSery certified
before serving patrons. Ms. Moss stated briefly described her background and that she has always
required her employees complete training with respect to the sale and service of alcohol. Ms. Steinbach
stated that if a bottle of wine is purchased they require each glass given with the bottle has a matching
valid identification. She stated they will have light snacks available at all times. Ms. Steinbach stated they
will not have a patio. Ms. Moss stated that any employee found in violation of the liquor code will be
immediately terminated and that they have a current copy of the liquor code to maintain on premise.
Kathy Schwol, representative for Liquor Licensing of Colorado, was sworn. Ms. Schwol briefly described
the petitioning process and the instructions given to the petitioners. She stated
Judge Lane adopted Resolution 2015-025 approving a beer and wine license from Art Without Limits,
LLC dba Painting With A Twist, 1112 Oakridge Drive, Suite 107.
Hearing on a New Application from
Smashburger Acquisition - Denver, LLC,
for a Beer and Wine License at
Smashburger #1006, 2550 East Harmony Road, Suite 100, Approved
Ray Tom, representative for Smashburger Acquisition - Denver, LLC, was sworn. In response to a
question from the Authority, Mr. Tom stated they are replacing their hotel -restaurant liquor license with
a beer and wine license. He stated that operationally they will run exactly the same way and that they
require every patron ordering an alcoholic beverage must provide valid identification. Mr. Tom stated
all employees are required to complete ServSafe training. He stated that they do not terminate employees
if they unintentionally violate the liquor code. Mr. Tom stated they have a current copy of the liquor code
on premise.
Kelly Pietrs, representative for Esquire Petitioning, LLC, was sworn. She briefly described the petitioning
process and the results of the survey.
Judge Land adopted Resolution 2015-023 approving from Smashburger Acquisition - Denver, LLC, for
a beer and wine license at Smashburger #1006, 2550 East Harmony Road, Suite 100.
2
September 3, 2015
Hearing New Application from RARE Hospitality Management, Inc.,
for a hotel -restaurant liquor license at LongHom Steakhouse #5550
at 3450 South College Avenue, Approved
Brian Proffitt, attorney representing RARE Hospitality Management, Inc., stated he and his client is ready
to proceed. Robert Raben, Director of Operations for RARE Hospitality Management, Inc., was sworn.
He stated he oversees 7 restaurants and that he is familiar with this location. Mr. Raben stated he has
been with LongHorn Steakhouse for 8 years and, that he has been in the restaurant business for nearly
30 years. He stated they card any patron ordering an alcoholic beverage that appears to be under the age
of 35 will be required to provide the server with a valid id. Mr. Raben stated they will hire over 80
employees for this location. He stated any vertical id must be approved by a manager before the patron
can be served. Mr. Raben stated any employee intentionally violates the liquor code is immediately
terminated. He stated they are primarily a restaurant.
Kelly Pietrs, representative for Esquire Petitioning, LLC, was sworn. Ms. Pietrs briefly described the
petitioning process and summarized the results. In response to a question from the Authority, she stated
it is rare to have 100% support like this one.
Judge Lane adopted Resolution 2015-020 approving a hotel -restaurant liquor license from RARE
Hospitality Management, Inc., at LongHorn Steakhouse #5550 at 3450 South College Avenue.
Hearing on a New Application from Coffee House Holdings, Inc.,
for a beer and wine license at
Starbucks 296, 2601 South Lemay Avenue, Suite 130, Approved
AND
Hearing on a New Application from Coffee House Holdings, Inc.,
for a beer and wine license at
Starbucks 14944,1708 South College Avenue, Approved
Brian Proffitt, attorney representing Coffee House Holdings, Inc., requested that the Authority conduct
the hearing for Starbucks #296, 2601 South Lemay and Starbucks #14944, 1708 South College Avenue
be conducted concurrently.
Andrea Moudakis, representative for Coffee House Holdings, Inc., was sworn. She stated she has been
a Starbucks employee for 23 years and a regional manager for 8 years. Ms. Moudakis reviewed this new
concept. She stated all the beers they will be serving are local and only served by the bottle; no draft
service. Ms. Moudakis stated they will always have food available to serve. She stated they will not accept
vertical id's. Ms. Moudakis stated any patron ordering an alcoholic beverage that appears to be under the
age of 39 will be required to provide a valid id. She stated any employee found in violation of the liquor
code will be immediately terminated. Ms. Moudakis detailed the premises at 2601 South Lemay Avenue,
Suite 130 as well as the 1708 South College Avenue.
Kelly Pietrs, representative for Esquire Petitioning, LLC, was sworn. Ms. Pietrs described the petitioning
process and summarized the results. She noted that with her 18 years of experience that a 98% approval
indicates strong support for this application.
September 3, 2015
David Danforth, party -in -interest, was sworn. He stated he is approximately 4200 feet from the Starbucks
at 1708 South College Avenue and 300 feet at 2601 South Lemay Avenue, Suite 130. Mr. Danforth stated
that there are other beer and wine outlets nearby to meet the needs of the neighborhood.
Mr. Proffitt noted that all the notices and legal notices have been conducted properly.
Judge Lane adopted Resolution 2015 - 021 approving a beer and wine license from Coffee House
Holdings, Inc., at Starbucks 296, 2601 South Lemay Avenue.
Judge Lane adopted Resolution 2015-021 approving a beer and wine license from Coffee House
Holdings, Inc., at Starbucks 14944, 1708 South College Avenue.
Hearing recessed at 2:50 p.m., reconvened at 3:00 p.m.
Hearing on a New Application from C&C Wines and Spirits, Inc.,
for a Retail Liquor Store License with a Tastings Permit at
Big Horn Liquor,1501 West Elizabeth Street, Suite D, Approved
Brian Proffitt, attorney representing C&C Wines and Spirits, Inc., briefly reviewed how he will proceed.
Crystal Kapoor, representative for C&C Wines and Spirits, Inc., was sworn. She stated she will be
responsible for the accounting for C&C Wines and Spirits, Inc., and Cliff Tanner will be responsible for
managing the employees. In response to questions from Mr. Proffitt, Ms. Kapoor briefly described the
financing of the liquor store. She stated they will dedicate 24 doors to craft beers. Ms. Kapoor stated they
will require all employees be TIPS or equivalent prior to opening and that they intend to initially hire 7
employees to start. She stated any patron purchasing alcohol will be required to provide a valid id and
that they will not accept vertical identification. Ms. Kapoor stated they will engage a `secret shopper'
program that test employees to make sure the employees are asking for id's. She stated any employee
found in violation of the liquor code will be immediately terminated.
Justin Cohen, attorney representing, John Musa owner and operator of Campus West Liquors, an
adjacent liquor store to Big Horn Liquors cross examined Crystal Kapoor.
Mr. Cohen cross-examined Ms. Kapoor.
Brian Proffitt redirected.
Max Scott, representative for Oedipus, Inc., was sworn. Mr. Scott detailed his experience with conducting
surveys.
September 3, 2015
Adjournment
The meeting adjourned at 5:00 p.m., to be reconvened September 21, 2015 at 1:00 p.m.
Municipal Judge