ALRC approves variety of licenses and entertainment permissions; several items conditional or referred

The Alcohol License Review Committee approved a range of license requests and related items during a lengthy June 18 hearing, including consent-agenda items, change-of-premises and entertainment license requests, and capacity increases.

Consent agenda: The committee approved the full consent agenda with multiple clerical changes and withdrawals. Among the items listed in committee remarks were a temporary Class B retail license and concurrent street-use permit for the Madison Museum of Contemporary Art’s Art Fair on the Square and numerous change-of-agent and entity-reorganization items for restaurants and retailers across the city. The committee chair read the list aloud, and no alder moved to separate any item.

Change of premises and side-street patios: The committee granted a license-premises change for Gamma Ray (DBA listed in city records as a different entity) with the applicant proposing to take two parking spaces for outdoor seating. That applicant told the committee the plan is to place four square tables seating four each plus two two-top tables on the sidewalk area; members asked about lighting and staff presence for security and were assured cameras and rope lighting would be used.

Capacity increase at Cielo: The committee approved a request to increase capacity for Cielo to 318 people. Applicant Susan McKinney told the committee the three-level building totals about 5,626 square feet, is being retrofitted with a building-wide sprinkler system, a new Carroll Street staircase and new furnaces, and staff will walk the exits with central-district tavern liaisons and plan to stagger egress at bar-close to avoid large crowds exiting onto the street. The applicant said she expects to aim to open in late summer or early fall; the applicant mentioned an August 28 target (the first football game) as an optimistic timeline.

Entertainment licenses and conditions - Stuffed Olive (State Street): The committee granted a 21-and-older entertainment license for the Stuffed Olive with conditions. The owner sought low-key live music and DJs in an establishment with 114 seats. The ALRC approved the license with conditions that match the city’s standard restaurant licensing terms and included that entertainment must cease by 9:00 p.m., the premise must meet the municipal definition of a restaurant at all times, food must be available at all times, and no patrons may enter or reenter after 1:30 a.m. on Friday and Saturday. - Ian’s Pizza (State Street): The committee approved a Class B beer / Class C wine license for Ian’s Pizza’s State Street location; hours vary through the week but the applicant said they do not plan to serve after midnight on most nights.

Other approvals and actions - Balau / Ahan (Williamson Street) – The committee granted an application for a small takeout / waiting-room concept tied to Ahan on Williamson Street; the applicant said the location will operate primarily as a food-first concept with grab-and-go options and daytime boba sales to serve a heavy dinner waitlist at the primary restaurant across the street. - Baked Wings – The committee granted the requested license and reiterated restaurant requirements; the applicant said the operation will be a mix of fast-casual and full-service bar seating and aimed to open in early July.

Pink Flamingo (brunch cafe) — contested applicant background: The committee heard a new operator application for Pink Flamingo Brunch Cafe. Inspector and MPD summaries flagged criminal history associated with one listed LLC officer (see below). The applicant’s team corrected a previously mis-entered date of birth on the submitted paperwork during the hearing and the ALRC required the named applicant to supply “substantial credible evidence of rehabilitation” before the council meeting: letters or certificates from AODA counselors, probation officers or other relevant providers; committee members accepted that documentation could include a provider statement that treatment was not required because the applicant is not actively using and therefore the usual treatment records would not exist. The committee recorded a recommendation that the applicant supply this documentation to the clerk before the July 1 Common Council meeting.

Referrals: Two convenience-store licensing items (Speedway and 7-Eleven entries) were referred to a future ALRC meeting because no applicant representatives had registered to appear.

Votes at a glance (selected) - Consent agenda: Approved (no separations). - Gamma Ray change of premises: Approved (moved/second recorded on the floor; no roll-call recorded). - Cielo capacity increase to 318: Approved (moved by Ald. Revere, seconded by Miss Westa; no roll-call recorded on transcript). - Stuffed Olive 21+ entertainment license: Approved with standard restaurant conditions and added limits (entertainment end time 9:00 p.m.; no entry/reentry after 1:30 a.m. Fri/Sat). - Ian’s Pizza (new Class B/Class C): Approved. - Balau / Ahan (Williamson Street waiting-room concept): Approved. - Baked Wings (new licensure / change of ownership): Approved. - Pink Flamingo Brunch Cafe (new license): Committee required additional documentary evidence of rehabilitation for one listed LLC officer/applicant before the July 1 Common Council meeting; the committee recorded guidance and asked the applicant to provide corrected application materials and supporting letters. - Speedway / 7-Eleven license items: Referred to next ALRC meeting (no applicant representatives present).

What to expect: Several approvals are recommendations to the Common Council and will appear on the July 1 agenda for final action. The clerk will accept additional documentation from applicants (for example the Pink Flamingo condition and Sonia Montero DOC letter) and will notify the committee if required materials arrive.