Commission discusses reissuance options for NoHo Social all‑alcohol license; decision tabled for future agenda

Licensing staff told the commission that an annual all‑alcohol on‑premise license formerly held by NoHo Social lapsed at midnight Dec. 31, 2024, after renewal paperwork was not filed. City staff said they attempted multiple outreach efforts in November–January, including calls and emails to the owner and to the owner’s attorney. The license reverted to the city when it was not renewed.

Annie (licensing staff) briefed the commission on the timeline and said she had contacted the state Alcoholic Beverages Control Commission (ABCC) about reinstatement rules; she reported ABCC guidance that a lapsed license could be reinstated if the quota allowed and the applicant submitted a new application with tax clearances and a letter confirming no changes. Commissioners noted the unusual circumstances: the license had been acquired by NoHo Social from a prior business rather than issued as an over‑quota allocation, and there was correspondence indicating family bereavement and later inquiries from the owner’s attorney about reinstatement.

Commissioners discussed several pathways for reissuing the license: (1) solicit applications from interested businesses and then choose a recipient after review; (2) hold a lottery among qualified applicants; or (3) keep the license in reserve while seeking legislative relief to increase quotas. Commissioners described advantages and drawbacks of each approach and asked staff to publish a request for applications so the commission can evaluate interest and then decide whether to hold a lottery or evaluate applicants on merits.

The commission took no final reissuance action at the Feb. 19 meeting and agreed to place the matter on a future agenda (March meeting) with proposed application materials and a recommended process for selecting a recipient if multiple applicants come forward.