Board renews Edge Bar and Grill liquor license after state violation tied to predecessor license; owner outlines corrective steps
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Summary
El Paso County commissioners voted 4‑0 on Oct. 28 to renew the hotel and restaurant liquor license for Edge Bar and Grill. The applicant described a state violation tied to an under‑age sale during operation under a temporary permit associated with the prior license and said the business implemented additional training and supervision.
The El Paso County Board of County Commissioners on Oct. 28 approved the renewal of a hotel and restaurant liquor license for Edge Bar and Grill, located at 7685 McLaughlin Road, Suite 150, by a vote of 4‑0.
County staff told the board the licensee received a state liquor‑code violation on Nov. 12, 2024 for a sale to a 17‑year‑old under the state enforcement division’s under‑age purchaser program. The stipulation agreement and order classified the matter as a level‑1 violation; board materials indicated the incident occurred while the business was operating under a temporary permit during a transfer of the prior Falcon Edge Bar and Grill license.
The applicant (owner/operator of Edge Bar and Grill) told the board she closed the restaurant immediately after learning of the incident, contacted enforcement officers and cooperated with the process. She said the employee involved pled guilty originally and then followed a district‑attorney‑approved plan that allowed withdrawal of the plea and dismissal of charges after the employee completed required conditions within six months. The applicant said she supervised the employee for about six months and implemented additional internal controls, including refusing to accept electronic IDs and requiring staff to check physical identification.
Clerk‑to‑the‑board staff explained the temporary permit process: when applicants operate under a transfer they may hold a temporary permit until the new license is issued, and state enforcement notifications sometimes arrive after county actions are completed. County staff confirmed the violation occurred during the temporary permit period and the applicant was required to appear before the board for renewal consideration.
Commissioners asked about the circumstances of the violation, training and use of ID‑scanning technology; the applicant said she has an ID scanner but relies on physical inspection because she believes scanning tools are not fully reliable for detecting counterfeit or misused IDs. County counsel spoke briefly to clarify the nature of the state proceeding. Commissioner comments acknowledged the applicant’s post‑incident supervision and additional training. The board voted to renew the license 4‑0.