Greeley authority approves La Pancho’s liquor license; applicants must file past loan paperwork

The Greeley Liquor License Authority on Aug. 15 approved a hotel-and-restaurant liquor license for Colorado Crude LLC, which plans to operate La Pancho’s Mexican Restaurant at 6925 W. 10th St., Suite 200, after the applicant files previously used loan paperwork and the state completes its review. The authority found the needs and desires of the community were met and that the licensees demonstrated good moral character.

The decision followed a city clerk report that planning, building and finance had no concerns and that code compliance had noted a sign issue; police had flagged a criminal-history entry for David Goldberg but the applicant explained the matters. Shelby Fletcher, the city clerk, told the authority the application was routed for administrative review and that the police memo and other documents were awaiting city attorney review.

Why it matters: The approval allows La Pancho’s to seek state licensing and, if the state approves, to sell alcohol once necessary state steps are complete. The authority’s conditions — filing prior loan documentation and meeting routine sign/posting requirements — are aimed at completing the administrative record before state issuance.

Most important facts: Applicant representatives told the authority they paid for equipment and build-out in cash and that earlier short-term loans from Sysco and an individual (reported in the application as $60,000 and $45,000) were paid back before the filing. Chris Rudy (applicant) and Brian Rudy (manager) said the business is a new entity with no outstanding debt. David Goldberg addressed his criminal-history entries, saying a 1993 disturbing-the-peace matter was dismissed and that a later civil-notice matter arose from a separate property issue; the authority accepted his explanation. The clerk’s record showed 35 collected signatures with four invalidated, leaving 31 valid signatures supporting the application in the mapped neighborhood area; the hearing officer said the area has relatively few residents but high traffic and concluded the petition satisfied the needs-and-desires requirement.

Supporting details and conditions: The authority asked the applicants to file documentation showing the prior loans were repaid so the clerk’s office could include them in the licensing file. The hearing officer said the approval is subject to the state liquor-licensing review and that the applicant must post the disturbance sign required by the Greeley Police Department. Fletcher said fingerprints had been submitted and the state had contacted the clerk’s office to begin its review.

What happens next: The city will add the loan paperwork to the file when submitted, then forward the completed local action to the state for review and final authorization. The license cannot be used until the state issues its approval.

Speakers quoted in this article are limited to persons who appeared in the hearing record: Hearing officer (unnamed), Shelby Fletcher (City Clerk), Miss Sharma (City Attorney), Chris Rudy (applicant), Brian Rudy (manager), David Goldberg (owner).