Fruita City Council approves tavern liquor license for Fruita Tavern

The Fruita City Council on a 5-0 vote approved a tavern liquor license for Moonlight Drive LLC, doing business as Fruita Tavern, allowing the business to surrender its existing brewpub license and operate as a tavern at 153 North Mulberry Street.

The license application from Dan and Michelle Collins was presented by Deb Woods, interim city clerk. Woods told council background checks conducted by the Colorado Bureau of Investigation, the Mesa County Sheriff’s Office and Grand Junction law enforcement returned clear results, and a neighborhood survey showed 36 signatures in favor and none opposed. "Pursuant to the Colorado Liquor Code, the council may consider only two things when approving a liquor license: the character of the applicants and the needs of the neighborhood," Woods said.

Michelle Collins, present as the applicant’s representative, told council operating under a brewpub license had become costly and administratively burdensome. She said changing to a tavern license would reduce payroll and insurance burdens because the business would no longer be classified as a manufacturing facility: "We'll need less staff for one. We won't need brewers, so payroll will be reduced ... Our insurance will go down because we're considered a manufacturing facility," Collins said.

Councilor [name not specified in the record] moved to approve the application; the motion was seconded. In a roll-call vote Deb Woods recorded the five affirmative votes by Councilors Parrish, Quigley, Miller, Williams and Purser. The motion passed 5-0.

Woods told council state liquor enforcement had completed its review and was awaiting local approval before issuing the tavern license. As part of the application the Collinses submitted an affidavit surrendering their brewpub license to take effect when the new tavern license is issued.

Council members asked clarifying questions about differences between the brewpub and tavern classifications and whether takeout/delivery of alcohol was covered by local approval. Woods said takeout/delivery permits are handled and approved by the state and are outside the city's local approval authority. Collins said the business has used takeout during the COVID period and does not expect substantial delivery operations going forward.

The council’s action approved the issuance of a tavern, malt, vineyards and spirituous liquor license for Moonlight Drive LLC, d/b/a Fruita Tavern, located at 153 North Mulberry Street. The new tavern license will replace the applicants’ existing brewpub license once issued by the state.

No public opposition was presented during the hearing.