Kenosha licensing committee approves multiple permits, denies one massage establishment; several approvals go to council

The Kenosha Licensing & Permit Committee on July 9 approved a batch of alcohol, outdoor-dining and other business licenses, conditionally cleared a parklet subject to Public Works and Community Development review, and recommended denial of a proposed massage establishment at 3717‑50 Second Street.

The meeting, called to order by Chairperson Kennedy, considered a mixture of individual applicant hearings and grouped motions. Most items were handled by voice vote; several approvals will be forwarded to the Common Council for final action.

Why it matters: licensing committee recommendations shape which businesses may open or expand in Kenosha while also surfacing neighborhood safety and code‑compliance issues. Committee action can be final for some permits or merely advisory when the full Common Council must act.

The committee approved operator-license applications and renewals for multiple applicants, and recommended denial of the massage-establishment application after extended public comment and committee questioning about hours, staffing, language barriers and safety procedures.

Votes at a glance (selected items considered July 9, 2025):

- Eric Rondales (application for new operator’s license): Committee voted to grant the license with conditions recommended by the city attorney — specifically, the grant is subject to an assessment of 25 demerit points noted in the city attorney’s report. Outcome: approved by committee; forwarded to council for final action.

- Rachel (last name on agenda: Weir; applicant identified herself as Rachel Myers): city attorney had recommended denial based on police records and what the memo described as a false application; the record reflects an applicant hearing in which Ms. Myers described medical issues and a missed ordered assessment. The transcript does not record a final committee vote on that item. Outcome: no committee action recorded/record states recommendation to deny by city attorney but no formal committee vote recorded in the transcript.

- Selena Barbosa Castillo (renewal of operator’s license): committee approved the renewal with 35 demerit points assessed, per the city attorney’s recommendation. Outcome: approved.

- Victoria Sanford (pet fancier permit at 871040 Second Avenue): approved as part of a grouped motion. Outcome: approved.

- TK Kenosha LLC (temporary outdoor extension of Class B beer/Class B liquor license for event on 09/13/2025): committee approved the temporary outdoor extension; one committee member abstained, stating a potential conflict (family employment). Outcome: approved (one abstention noted).

- Chi Shat Song (proposed massage establishment at 371750 Second Street): after an extended applicant hearing and multiple public questions about staffing, hours (applicant proposed 9 a.m.–8 p.m., seven days a week), language barriers, waiting-room layout, entry procedures and safety (including concerns about locking a room during service and emergency access), the committee moved to recommend denial based on specified ordinance sections. Committee voted in favor of denial; the matter is forwarded as a recommendation. Outcome: recommended denial to council based on ordinance citations raised during the meeting.

- Explorers Group LLC (temporary outdoor extension / outdoor cafe): approved. Outcome: approved.

- Olofson and Porter / Olsen and Porter Vintage Goods LLC (5000 Seventh Avenue): the committee approved new Class C liquor and related cabaret/outdoor-dining licenses (items 8a–8c). The parklet/parklet temporary outdoor extension (item 8d) was approved conditionally subject to Public Works and Community Development sign‑off; the committee explicitly authorized conditional approval so the applicant would not need to return to Licensing & Permit if the departments sign off. Outcome: 8a–8c approved; 8d approved subject to Public Works and Community Development approval.

- Wilson and Porter (outdoor dining area at 5000 Seventh Avenue): the committee moved to deny that specific outdoor-dining item after discussion; outcome: denial recommended.

- AJ’s Restaurant, Deli and Drinks LLC (new Class B beer/Class B liquor upon surrender of another license, to be effective 07/08/2025): committee voted to approve and will transmit the recommendation to council; the committee noted follow-up questions that will be addressed before council. Outcome: approved by committee; forwarded to council.

- Tapas and Tango LLC (Class C liquor license at 232550 Second Street): approved by committee. Outcome: approved.

- Renewal applicants including Interstate Lone Wolf LLC and POI Inc.: approved. Outcome: approved.

- Rosamie (d/b/a Always U) peddler stand at Anderson Pool Park parking spot 1: committee approved the new yearly peddler permit. Outcome: approved.

What the committee flagged during debate: - Safety and public-access concerns tied to the proposed 1‑person massage operation at 371750 Second Street (Chi Shat Song), including that the applicant planned one licensed therapist, no receptionist, proposed walk‑ins and seven‑day operation; committee members and public speakers raised concerns about locking procedures and emergency egress. Several speakers also raised communication and language‑access questions because the applicant relies on phone translation apps. - Parklet placement and traffic interaction at 5000 Seventh Avenue (Olsen and Porter): committee approved the parklet conditionally and asked Public Works and Community Development to confirm placement and protective measures (the applicant proposed adding a concrete Jersey barrier angled to protect patrons from turning vehicles). - Conflict/abstention noted for TK Kenosha’s temporary alcohol extension when a committee member said their daughter recently took a job with the venue and therefore abstained from the vote.

Speakers and parties who appeared at the hearing included Chairperson Kennedy (chair), Vice Chairperson Ruffalo, Alderperson Steele, Alderson Dyson, Alderson Harper, city attorney staff, Lieutenant Galley (police), applicants and business representatives including Eric Rondales, Selena Castillo, Victoria Sanford, a representative for TK Kenosha LLC, an applicant/supporter for Chi Shat Song (John Kervis), Michael Goffman (Olofson/Olsen & Porter matters), Matthew R. Lees (renewal items), Jose Miguel Gutierrez (peddler stand), and several other community members who spoke during applicant hearings.

Next steps: many approvals are advisory and will be forwarded to the Common Council for final action at the next council meeting. The committee’s recommendation to deny the massage-establishment application will also go to the council as the formal recommendation of the Licensing & Permit Committee.

Provenance: committee discussion and votes appear throughout the July 9, 2025 licensing‑permit transcript, beginning with the meeting call to order and roll call and concluding with the motion to adjourn. The committee conducted applicant hearings and took votes on the listed items during the session.