Greeley liquor licensing authority approves several transfers and new license, continues two matters to March 14

The Greeley City Liquor Licensing Authority on Feb. 14 approved multiple liquor-license actions and set follow-up dates for others, deciding to approve a new beer-and-wine license for Sala Thai Greeley, approve transfers for a retail liquor store and a hotel-and-restaurant license, renew Hugo’s despite a lapse in a prior stipulation, continue two transfer matters for additional paperwork, and set a status conference in an order-to-show-cause matter for March 14 at 1 p.m.

The decisions came during a regularly scheduled licensing hearing conducted via Zoom and the city clerk’s streaming portal. Authority members reviewed city staff reports, background checks, petition signatures and required wholesaler affidavits before making rulings. Several items were continued so applicants could produce wholesaler affidavits or appear in person.

Most consequential for neighborhood process was the approval of a new beer-and-wine license for Sala Thai Greeley, 1330 Eighth Ave., where the city clerk’s office counted 53 petition signatures submitted and determined 35 valid signatures remained after 18 were rejected for form errors. The authority found no signatures in opposition and released the license for the applicant to submit to the state. “I will approve the liquor license as requested. I’ll ask the city clerk’s office to put my electronic signature on that application and send that to the state,” the presiding officer said.

On transfers and renewals: - The authority approved the transfer of a retail liquor license for Presti Spirits (doing business as Get Some Liquors, 6560 20 Ninth St. Suite 107) after staff verified required paperwork and resolved a wholesaler-affidavit detail. The presiding officer cited a dismissed 2013 drug paraphernalia charge on one applicant’s record but found the applicants met the good-moral-character standard. “I’ll find good moral character in the transfer, both applicants,” the officer said. - A hotel-and-restaurant liquor-license transfer for Country Inn Diner LLC, d/b/a Country Inn (1415 Eighth Ave.), was approved; staff confirmed a wholesaler affidavit showing “paid in full” had been provided and background checks returned no disqualifying history. - A transfer application for Highbrow Tap House (Rahaset LLC) was continued to March 14 at 1 p.m. because the applicant had not provided the required wholesaler affidavits showing vendors had been paid. The authority directed the applicant to obtain the affidavits and repost notice at the property with the new hearing date. - The authority continued the order-to-show-cause hearing for Chiba Hut (Chiba Hutt Investment Company, 4239 Center Place Drive, Unit 1H) to March 14 at 1 p.m. after the city attorney reported mitigating information and parties said they were pursuing a resolution.

On a renewal matter for Hugo’s (locations at 2540 11th Ave. and 4230 Ninth Center Place Drive, Unit 1C), staff told the authority that a previously agreed stipulation required managers to take a TIPS (alcohol-server) training course by June 1, 2024; one manager completed training on June 5, 2024, and another manager did not complete it. The city attorney said the office was not seeking suspension or nonrenewal and asked the authority to allow the renewal to proceed. The presiding officer said he would not impose the previously negotiated 10-day suspension and approved renewal but noted the noncompliance could be used in future enforcement actions. The authority made no additional penalty assessment at the hearing.

Other procedural items: the authority approved the Jan. 17 meeting minutes and confirmed streaming through the city clerk’s portal worked.

Votes at a glance - Sala Thai Greeley (new beer-and-wine license, 1330 Eighth Ave.): approved; staff report: 35 valid petition signatures, 0 opposed; background checks clear. - Presti Spirits / Get Some Liquors (transfer, 6560 20 Ninth St., Suite 107): approved; wholesaler affidavit issue resolved; one applicant had a dismissed 2013 paraphernalia charge. - Country Inn Diner LLC / Country Inn (transfer, 1415 Eighth Ave.): approved; wholesaler affidavit showing paid in full on file; background checks clear. - Hugo’s (renewal, 2540 11th Ave./4230 Ninth Center Place Dr., Unit 1C): renewal approved despite stipulated training noncompliance; city not seeking suspension or revocation at this hearing. - Highbrow Tap House (transfer): continued to March 14, 1 p.m., for required wholesaler affidavits and reposting of notice. - Chiba Hut (order to show cause): status conference continued to March 14, 1 p.m., parties pursuing possible resolution. - Minutes (Jan. 17): approved.

What the decisions mean The authority’s rulings chiefly resolved routine licensing paperwork and character reviews that allow new and transferring businesses to continue or begin operations pending state licensing. Where required vendor affidavits were missing, the authority continued matters to give applicants time to secure the filings and to ensure wholesalers will not be left unpaid if ownership changes. In one renewal case the authority exercised discretion not to enforce a previously negotiated short suspension after the city attorney said staff would not seek that penalty at this time.

The authority set a March 14, 2025, follow-up docket at 1 p.m. for the Chiba Hut status conference and for transfer matters needing additional documentation. Applicants were instructed to work with the city clerk’s office to confirm posting and to submit outstanding affidavits or documentation before the next hearing.