Boulder licensing authority orders 18-day liquor suspension for Everyday Store after admitted violations

The City of Boulder Beverage Licensing Authority accepted an on-the-record stipulation March 19 from Everyday Store LLC, doing business as Everyday Store at 1275 West 13th Street, and ordered an 18-day suspension of liquor sales after the licensee admitted three violations of state and local rules.

The stipulation addressed (1) an alleged violation of Colorado liquor code 47-302(a) forbidding physical changes to licensed premises without approval; (2) a parallel provision in the Authority’s Rules of Procedure (subsection 8-3-1) requiring permission before material changes to premises or use; and (3) Colorado Liquor Code Regulation 47-950(b)(1), which requires visible signage and other safeguards when alcoholic beverages are located immediately adjacent to soft drinks, candy or similar products. The Authority accepted the licensee’s admission and then moved to the penalty phase.

Officer Leah Rech of the Boulder Police Department described the investigative timeline and evidence. Rech testified that licensing staff emailed the department on Dec. 30, 2024 with concerns about possible unapproved modifications and that a Department officer physically inspected the store on Jan. 2, 2025. Rech said body-worn camera footage from that visit showed alcohol “piled everywhere,” with cases and pallets placed on aisle end caps and alcoholic beverages located adjacent to snacks and soda near the store’s fountain machines. Rech told the Authority the footage showed alcohol “throughout the store” and multiple locations where alcohol sat next to candy and drinks without required signage.

The store’s managing member, Harbans Lalli, testified that the placement resulted from an over-delivery of beer by a distributor and inadequate internal handling. Lalli said staff removed and relocated the excess product within days of notice and that the shop is now storing alcoholic beverages behind approved coolers while it pursues a revised floor plan and zoning review. “We remove everything and, very quick, moved it back behind the coolers,” Lalli said on the record.

Members of the Authority discussed aggravating and mitigating factors. Several members cited the licensee’s prompt admission and remedial actions as mitigating, while others said the operator’s lack of knowledge about licensed-premises responsibilities and the apparent lack of manager training were aggravating. Member Michael Absalom reminded the licensee that the condition of the licensed premises is the licensee’s responsibility regardless of distributor actions.

Chair Matt Califano moved for a penalty of 18 days served with 27 days held in abeyance; Member Michael Absalom seconded. The motion passed with five aye votes (Califano, Absalom, Carr, Haggerty, Roberts). The licensing clerk said suspension posters would be created and available for pickup the next day; the posters must be posted from midnight on the designated Monday for 18 consecutive days the store is open, during which no liquor may be sold. The clerk said the city will email pickup instructions when posters are ready.

The Authority’s record shows the city’s prosecutor called Officer Rech to provide facts and circumstances; the licensee admitted each element of the allegations on the record and the Authority accepted the stipulation. The licensee’s representatives told the board they are pursuing a formal modification of premises (a revised floor plan and zoning review) so that future storage and display of alcoholic beverages are clearly authorized and segregated from snack and beverage products.

The Authority’s order and the instructions for posting the suspension notice were made on the record; the clerk confirmed logistical details for implementing the suspension timeline.