The Alcohol License Review Committee approved a package of new and amended alcohol licenses at its Dec. 17, 2025 meeting while referring one application for further neighborhood outreach.

Approvals and key details

- 4915 Commercial Avenue (Rodrigo Flores) — class B beer license for a grocery/restaurant that the applicant said will be ~60% food, 20% alcohol and 20% other sales; applicant amended estimated indoor seating to 45. Committee approved item 19 without objection.

- Mintmark (change of licensed premises at 1874 E. Washington) — applicant Chad Vogel explained an added upstairs bar area; floor plans show a 45-person indoor capacity and the council motion approved the change of premises after confirming inspections will finalize capacity.

- Luna’s Market (2328 S. Park St.) — applicant Miriam Maldonado requested a second location with beer and liquor; committee discussed whether to apply conditions carried from the applicant’s other site (sale-packaging rules). After debate members declined to impose the re-packaging condition at this location and approved the license.

- Sleep Inn / Mainstay (4802 Tradewinds Pkwy) — applicant Bhavin Patel asked to reinstate a prior hotel license; the applicant amended the application on the record to set indoor licensed capacity at 200 and remove an outdoor patio from the licensed premise; committee approved with that amended premise.

- Center for Black Excellence and Culture (671 W. Badger Rd.) — the new nonprofit cultural center sought an alcohol license and an entertainment license to support theater and members-only activities; committee approved both items; staff noted the theater license process may affect whether an entertainment license is also required.

- Bonzo (Sherman Ave.) and Capital Club (107 State St.) — both neighborhood restaurant concepts reported neighborhood outreach and were approved by the committee.

Referral/deferral

- La Bonita (5534 E. Park Blvd.) — committee members found the application incomplete for neighborhood outreach and floor plans; while the applicant had posted the required notice, the alder and police captain had not completed mandated contacts. Miss Westra moved to refer the application to the next ALRC meeting (Jan. 20) so the applicant can complete required neighborhood and captain outreach; motion carried.

Process notes and next steps

Several approvals were conditioned implicitly or explicitly on obtaining building and fire inspections, and the Sleep Inn/Mainstay approval included the applicant’s on-record amendment to capacity and premise. The clerk reminded applicants that the committee’s recommendation for some items goes to the Common Council for final approval. For the La Bonita referral, the applicant must return with completed outreach and any required floor plans before the council hearing.

The committee also discussed language-accessibility work the clerk’s office commissioned from Robert LaFollette School students to make licensing materials easier to use for non-English speakers.