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Licensing board recommends renewal of Oak and Hog reserve liquor license after structural delays
Summary
West Bend’s licensing board voted May 5 to recommend renewing the Oak and Hog reserve liquor license for the applicant after the business owner and contractor described extensive foundation and structural repairs that delayed opening; the item will advance to the council consent agenda May 19.
The West Bend Licensing Board on May 5 recommended renewing a reserve liquor license for Oak and Hog after hearing that extensive structural problems and related repairs delayed the business’s opening.
City staff said the Oak and Hog applicant paid $10,000 for a reserve license in 2022 and later received a bounce‑back grant from the Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation to help cover that cost. The applicant, identified in meeting remarks as Chad Gamen, and his contractor, John Shmitas of Rayland Contractors, told the board that structural work discovered during renovation — including the installation of deep foundation piers — delayed construction by roughly 12 to 14 months.
City counsel and staff described a timeline: the owner filed in June 2022, the city assisted in securing a reserve license, permitting and state plan review extended into 2024, and final conditional state approval arrived in July 2024. Staff told the board the applicant has spent in excess of $380,000 so far and that approximately $622,000 remains to finish the project; meeting remarks said $165,000 of the spent amount was related to unexpected foundation work. The project was described as an approximately $900,000 renovation; the contractor estimated completion by November 2025.
Under city code cited at the meeting, a liquor license may be revoked or declined for any license not used for the sale of alcoholic beverages for three consecutive months. Staff told the board the non‑renewal process is functionally the same as a revocation hearing, so the item was before the licensing board to decide whether to recommend further proceedings or renewal. After applicant and contractor remarks, a board member moved to recommend renewal; the motion was seconded and carried. Staff said the board’s recommendation will appear on the council consent agenda on May 19.
Board members said the city must balance scarce reserve licenses with fairness to an owner who has invested in renovations; one member asked that the applicant notify the city if plans change so the license can be made available to other prospective operators.
No roll‑call tally was recorded in the public transcript; the licensing board’s recommendation to renew will advance to the Common Council for final action.
