Milwaukee Licenses Committee approves most renewal applications, denies two beer-license requests after neighborhood safety and concentration concerns

The Milwaukee Common Council Licenses Committee on June 27 considered a slate of license applications and renewals and voted on each. Committee members approved most renewals and new applications, in some cases with conditions or warning letters; they denied two applications for Class A fermented-malt (beer) licenses after members cited concentration of liquor outlets and neighborhood safety concerns.

Why it matters: The committee’s decisions decide who may sell beer and other fermented-malt beverages or operate food trucks and extended-hours stores in neighborhoods across the city. Several items drew extensive neighborhood testimony and police reports, prompting added conditions or formal warnings from the committee.

Key outcomes and context

- South Ave Foods (2108 S. 20th St.): Approved as amended to add an ID scanner to the operation plan, increase on-site cameras to 16 and extend video retention to 30 days. The applicant acknowledged prior citations for employees selling cigarettes to minors and told the committee those employees were fired; the agent said ID scanning has been added across all locations. The committee recorded the amendment and approved the license without recorded objections.

- Il Panino (2131 S. Muskego Ave.) and Taqueria El Tenapa (3447 W. Forest Home Ave.): Renewals approved after routine review; no police reports or neighborhood objections recorded at the hearing.

- La Pica No. 3 (3427 W. Lincoln Ave.): Renewal approved with a formal warning letter after police reports describing two late-night disturbances, including an incident that involved gunfire and a victim with head and neck injuries. The licensee agreed to meet with District 2 police to review safety measures.

- Jack’s American Pub (1323 E. Brady St.): Renewal approved despite a police report describing a July 13 shooting tied to an altercation that escalated to gunfire; the business’s counsel and owners called the event isolated, described steps taken to increase paid security and reported cooperation with police. The Brady Street Business Improvement District’s executive director testified in support, saying Jack’s is a long-standing, responsible member of the business corridor.

- Junior’s Foods (Hopkins Ave. location): The request for a Class A fermented-malt (beer) license was denied on grounds of concentration after Vice Chair Andrea Pratt moved denial. The committee cited an existing concentration of alcohol outlets and the availability of other steps to support local businesses without adding another fermented-malt outlet.

- Villard Petrol Mart (3709 W. Villard Ave.): Renewal approved with a warning letter after the committee reviewed multiple police reports that included shots-fired and battery incidents at or near the premises. The applicant said the person described as a “security guard” was not an employee; staff confirmed improvements to camera access and said the applicant would re-run a safety briefing with MPD.

- HS Supermarket / HYA Investment (2643 W. Atkinson Ave.): The committee denied the Class A fermented-malt application following extended public testimony. Neighbors, community organizations and safety partners provided mixed testimony; several neighborhood groups and the Thirtieth Street corridor described improved safety after the location no longer sold liquor, while some neighbors and community organizations supported the applicant. Aldermanic members cited neighborhood safety, prior enforcement history and “concentration” in moving to deny the fermented-malt application.

- Narya Groceries (2101 N. 30th St.): Approved. The applicant described prior business experience and said outstanding fines related to other matters had been addressed by payment or otherwise handled; no neighborhood objections were registered at the hearing.

- Judy’s Red Hots (4806 W. Lisbon Ave.): Held to the call of the chair because the applicant did not appear; committee discussion noted an outstanding fines/payment plan and that the licensing office and aldermanic staff were in communication about next steps.

Votes at a glance (motions, movers and outcomes)

- South Ave Foods (agent: Piyush Patel) — motion: approval as amended (add ID scanner, 16 cameras, 30-day recording); mover: Alderwoman Jocasta Zamarripa (moved approval); outcome: approved as amended (no objections recorded).

- Il Panino (agent: Herlado/Eladio Garcia) — motion: approval (renewal); mover: Alderwoman (mover not specified in record); outcome: approved (no objections recorded).

- Taqueria El Tenapa (agent: Diego Isidoro) — motion: approval (renewal); outcome: approved (no objections recorded).

- La Pica No. 3 (agent: William Rivera) — motion: approval with a warning letter; mover: Alderwoman Jocasta Zamarripa (or local alderperson moved approval with warning); outcome: approved with warning letter (no objections recorded).

- Jack’s American Pub (agents/owners: Scott Schafer, Darrell Towers) — motion: approval (renewal); mover: Alderman Alex Brower; outcome: approved (no objections recorded).

- Junior’s Foods (Kenneth Cross) — motion: denial based on concentration (Class A fermented-malt); mover: Alderwoman Andrea Pratt; outcome: denied.

- Villard Petrol Mart (Gurinder Nagra) — motion: approval with warning letter; mover: Alderwoman Andrea Pratt; outcome: approved with warning letter.

- HS Supermarket / HYA Investment (agent: Kanisha Shanae Nash) — motion: denial based on concentration; mover: Alderwoman Andrea Pratt; outcome: denied.

- Narya Groceries (agent: Manish) — motion: approval; mover: Alderman Mark Chambers; outcome: approved.

- Judy’s Red Hots (Ali S. Chaddha) — motion: hold to call of chair (applicant absent); outcome: held to call of chair.

What the committee recorded about process and conditions

- Police reports and prior citations were read into the record for multiple applicants; in some cases applicants said cited employees had been fired and that they installed ID scanners and upgraded camera systems. - Several approvals were accompanied by conditions added to the plan of operation (for example, adding ID scanners and increasing camera coverage and retention) or by formal warning letters mandated by the committee. - Where neighborhood safety concerns were raised at length, committee members both referenced community testimony and relied on the “concentration” standard when voting to deny fermented-malt licenses.

Meeting context and next steps

The Licenses Committee closed the meeting after all items were addressed and the committee’s decisions will be reflected in licensing office records and reported to the Common Council as required by local process. Several licensees were directed to follow up with District 2 police or licensing staff for compliance steps; one item was held for the applicant to resolve outstanding fines and return on a future agenda.