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Sheboygan committee grants 4-month extension for Miran Chito liquor license
Summary
The Licensing & Public Safety Committee granted a four-month extension to liquor license No. 3475 for Miran Chito at 1235 Indiana Ave, citing building-code repairs and continuing contractor estimates; the committee noted any further extension would be reviewed by the next council.
The Sheboygan City Licensing & Public Safety Committee voted Jan. 26 to grant a four-month extension to liquor license No. 3475, held by JN Cortez LLC for the Miran Chito restaurant at 1235 Indiana Avenue.
City Attorney staff described the property as closed July 10, 2025, after inspectors found significant building-code concerns related to load-bearing walls in the back half of the structure, and said no permit applications for structural repairs were pending as of the hearing. The attorney told the committee the council may extend the municipal six-month requirement in Sheboygan Municipal Code §4-41 for good cause but cautioned extensions should not be set beyond the license year without further review.
Elena Cortez, the licensee and agent for JN Cortez LLC, told the committee she leases the property from owner Fernando Pena and asked for time to see whether the owner could arrange repairs and reopen. “I just wanna be able to run the kitchen,” Cortez said, adding that she could operate delivery and pickup if full public service remained restricted.
Owner Fernando Pena said he is working with an architect and seeking contractor bids but has struggled to obtain reliable estimates and contractor commitments; he told the committee one contractor estimated about $50,000 and roughly four months of work. “I wanna fix the building one way or the other,” Pena said.
Committee members questioned whether repairs were likely to be completed within the current license period and urged the licensee to consider a change of premise if repairs proved lengthy. Alder Perella moved to extend the license for four months; Alder Boris seconded and the committee approved the motion by voice vote. City Attorney staff said any subsequent extension in June would come before a newly seated committee and would not be guaranteed.
The committee recorded that the last permit issued for the property was a March 2025 exterior tuckpointing permit and that no current permits for structural work had been filed.
The extension preserves the license for four months to allow time for permits and contractor work to proceed; the committee encouraged the licensee and owner to provide documentation of permits and inspections if they seek a further extension.
