Park County board approves hotel-and-restaurant liquor license for Golden Pine Chinese Restaurant in Pine

The Park County Board of County Commissioners, acting as the local licensing authority, approved a hotel-and-restaurant liquor license for Golden Pine Chinese Restaurant, 67348 U.S. Highway 285 Unit A in Pine, Colorado, by a 3-0 vote on Sept. 17.

County Clerk and Recorder Mountcastle presented the application packet to the board and cited the clerk's investigation into the applicant's documents. The board heard testimony from a third-party surveyor and from the applicant, and commissioners directed staff to provide a written notice of the board’s decision to the applicant.

The survey of the neighborhood was presented by Eva Ghertz of Liquor Pros, who said the firm attempted contact with 171 business owners, managers and residents and obtained 53 signatures in support — 13 business owners or managers and 40 residents — all reported as in favor. Ghertz said the survey was conducted Aug. 29 and Aug. 31 and that the physical posting and photographic evidence of the notice were included in the packet. “Given the 100% [support], it clearly shows there is a positive need and desire for this license in the area,” Ghertz told the board.

The applicant, Vincent Lin, testified that he is the sole owner and on-site manager of Golden Pine and has operated the restaurant in Pine for about a year and a half; he also identified himself as owner-operator of other food and retail businesses in the region. Lin acknowledged a liquor-related citation in 2021 involving an employee sale to a minor and told the board his operations have since passed multiple compliance checks. Lin said staff will receive TIPS training and that new employees would receive certification within 30 days. He said the restaurant currently serves Chinese and Thai cuisine, is open Tuesday through Sunday from about 11 a.m. to 9 p.m., operates front and back patios, and expects alcohol sales to be roughly 10% of gross receipts initially, possibly rising but “definitely not more than 20%.”

Mountcastle cited Colorado statutes governing local licensing and reviewed the materials submitted for the application, including organizational documents, proof of legal possession, a premises diagram and background information. James Blimeford, attorney for the applicant, noted the combination of the petitions and the applicant’s testimony as evidence of community need.

After discussion the board voted to approve the application and directed staff to prepare written notification of the decision and a resolution for adoption at a future meeting. The motion carried 3-0.

The board did not make further conditions on the license at the meeting; the applicant and his attorney confirmed awareness of training and ID-check policies discussed during testimony.