Kenosha licenses committee recommends denial of one massage license, grants extensions and awards one reserve liquor license

The Kenosha Licenses and Permits Committee on Sept. 22 recommended denial of an application for a massage‑establishment license after finding the paperwork listed an address and district inconsistent with where the applicant said she intended to operate. The committee also recommended granting an operator’s license for Sarah Porras subject to 50 demerit points, approved several new peddler/stand and temporary‑outdoor event licenses with no adverse police recommendations, extended the Coffee Pot LLC’s existing license for 180 days, gave a 30‑day permission‑to‑maintain to Interstate Lone Wolf LLC, and voted 3–2 to recommend to common council awarding a reserve class B liquor license to First Watch Restaurants Inc.

The committee’s recommendation on the massage application centered on discrepancies between the address on the filed application and the business location the applicant said she had purchased. Committee members and staff identified multiple inconsistencies in the paperwork, including the business address, residency dates, and an insurance document that appeared to be a renewal referencing an earlier policy name. The committee voted to recommend denial of the application to the common council rather than deferring to allow the applicant to correct the records. A city attorney advised that denial on the grounds of a false or inaccurate application was an appropriate route given the public‑notification and agenda requirements.

Why it matters: licensing decisions affect neighborhood notification, public safety review and competing applicants for limited licenses. The committee’s recommendations go to the full common council, which takes final action.

Key actions and outcomes - Operator’s license (Item 1): Application of Sarah Porras. Committee recommended granting an operator’s license subject to 50 demerit points (tracking system explained at the hearing). Motion passed; recommendation to council. - Peddler/stand and daily public interchange licenses (Items 2 and 3): Applications for El Serape Mexican Restaurant & Grill LLC (5001 Fourth Ave.) and Equinox Botanical Boutique LLC (5901 Sixth Ave.) had no adverse police recommendations; committee voted to approve and recommend to council. - Temporary outdoor extensions (Item 4): Applications for Bendelli’s Adventure Inc. (temporary extension 10/10–10/12/2025, mechanical bull) and American Vision (dart tournament event) had no adverse police recommendations; applicants described safety measures (padding for the mechanical bull; containment of dart balls). Committee voted to approve and recommend to council. - Massage establishment (Item 5): Application by Chung Xia (Chushia) Song for a massage establishment (applicant testified she purchased an existing business she intended to rename “Family Relaxing Spa”). Committee members found the filed application listed a different address/district than the location the applicant repeatedly described during the hearing; insurance paperwork appeared to be a renewal and carried the former business name; the applicant’s residency period in Kenosha was discussed (resident since June, less than a 90‑day residency threshold referenced by a committee member). After extended questioning and a city‑attorney recommendation that the public notice and agenda must match the actual business location, the committee voted to recommend denial to council based on a false/inaccurate application. The applicant was told she could refile correctly and return to council at a later date. - Coffee Pot LLC (Item 6): Request to maintain existing class B beer/liquor license while rebuilding after fire. Applicant Janice Barnhill and general contractor Charles Greggs described a phased plan: partial reopening of the less‑damaged “Kenosha Room” by late fall and full facility by mid‑January; the committee discussed the city ordinance limits for extensions (city attorney noted discretion for existing licenses). Committee amended a motion and approved an extension of 180 days to allow reconstruction work to proceed. - Interstate Lone Wolf LLC (Item 7): Applicant requested permission to maintain a class B license at 6611–120 20th Ave. After discussion about demolition and rebuilding timelines and the absence of one key agent at the hearing, the committee declined a multi‑week deferral and instead granted permission to maintain for 30 days while the applicant coordinates with city departments. - Melania Beerhead (Item 8): Applicant reported the license had been issued earlier the same day and withdrew the permission‑to‑maintain request; the committee accepted the withdrawal. - Reserve class B liquor license contest (Items 9–11): Three applicants sought beer or reserve liquor licenses for limited available slots. The committee considered First Watch Restaurants Inc. (applicant A) and Tapasintango LLC (applicant B) among others. After hearing testimony and reviewing business plans and projected revenues, the committee voted 3–2 to recommend First Watch for the reserve class B liquor license. The committee then voted to deny the other applicants for that reserve license based on unavailability of the single reserve slot. Several applicants for new class B beer licenses without available quota (including Trace/Tres Hermanas) were denied on the grounds of non‑availability.

Process notes and committee guidance - The committee repeatedly emphasized that their recommendations are forwarded to common council for final action (Chairperson Kennedy: “Remember, this is a recommendation to council.”). - Where an application’s filed address or district differs from the location the applicant says they intend to use, the committee treated that as a material, agenda‑notification issue and moved to deny rather than accept corrections at the hearing. - Applicants seeking permission to maintain while rebuilding were asked to coordinate with city permitting, inspections and the city attorney’s office; the committee requested clear timelines and evidence of inter‑departmental sign‑offs at follow‑up hearings.

What to expect next - The committee’s recommendations will be transmitted to the Kenosha Common Council. Applicants denied for false or non‑matching applications were told they may refile with corrected information and reapply; those recommended for approval will appear on council dockets for final action (Chair referenced council meeting Oct. 6 at 7:00 p.m. as the next relevant docket date for some items).