Chiba Hut renewal approved with weapons screening, ID scanning and finance audit after police flagged violence

The Alcohol License Review Committee recommended renewal of Chiba Hut’s combination alcohol license with multiple conditions and ordered a financial audit covering 2023 through the present after police and city attorneys described repeated public-safety incidents at the establishment.

Assistant City Attorney Amy Zillavy told the committee she became aware of a recent escalation in calls for service at the Chiba Hut on West Gilman Street and that officers had reported fights, pepper-spray use, persons carrying firearms inside the business and damage to property. Central District Captain Hartman said officers have responded to "large crowds, mostly younger juveniles" and that the establishment had become a hangout because "there is not a lot of control at the access points." He added officers had encountered people known to be carrying firearms inside the premises.

Owners Robert and Heather Hoon told the committee they operate three Chiba Hut locations and acknowledged a change in the atmosphere at the Madison store this year. Robert Hoon said alcohol sales account for roughly 15% of the Madison location’s revenue and described management changes the owners had made, including hiring a seasoned general manager, contracting an outside security firm, installing PatronScan ID software, adding cameras and posting capacity signage.

The committee’s renewal conditions require the restaurant to meet the city’s definition of a restaurant, that alcohol service cease by 12 a.m., that private security be used on Friday and Saturday nights from 10 p.m. until close, and that security staff be trained in weapons screening. The committee also required patron ID to be verified at each alcohol purchase and that a computerized ID scanner be used at the entrance with wristbands for those 21 and older during weekend hours. Alder Oliver Veer moved to order a finance department audit covering 2023 to the present; the audit motion was approved.

Alder Veer described the audit authority under Madison General Ordinance 38.05(10)(b) and said the audit will allow the city to determine whether Chiba Hut’s operations qualify as a restaurant under ordinance standards. Attorney McReynolds and Captain Hartman recommended the weapons-screening and wristband practices be focused on Friday and Saturday evenings when most incidents occurred.

The committee recorded the renewal with conditions and directed the finance department to proceed with the requested audit. The owners volunteered to cooperate with the audit; the committee also encouraged the owners to continue meeting with police and to implement the training and patron-management practices discussed.

Committee actions

- Motion to renew Chiba Hut’s license with conditions (restaurant definition compliance, alcohol service to cease by 12 a.m., private security Fri–Sat 10 p.m.–close, weapons screening training, ID checks at each alcohol purchase and weekend ID scanner/wristband protocol). Mover: Alder Rivera. Outcome: approved.

- Motion to order a financial audit by the city finance department covering 2023–present to determine whether Chiba Hut is operating as a restaurant under MGO 38.02. Mover: Alder Oliver Veer. Outcome: approved.

What happens next

The finance department will contact the licensee to gather records for the audit. The ALRC will monitor implementation of the security, ID and weapons-screening requirements; the owners may return to the ALRC to request a change in conditions if the audit or police review supports that change.