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Kenosha council revokes TU Kino Bar LLC liquor license after contested hearing; vote 14–3
Summary
After a hearing and closed-session deliberation, the Common Council voted 14–3 to revoke the Class B beer and Class B liquor license for TU Kino Bar LLC; the licensee said a filing error led to omitted revenue; the council adopted the license committee recommendation to revoke.
The Kenosha Common Council voted 14–3 to revoke the Class B beer and Class B liquor license for TU Kino Bar LLC after a contested hearing and closed-session deliberation.
The action followed a recommendation from the committee on licenses and permits to revoke the license. Attorney Thomas Sanarelli, representing TU Kino Bar LLC, argued the economic-impact statement was incomplete because the business operates as two LLCs. He said that when salon and bar revenue are combined, the overall revenue exceeds the 70% threshold cited in the committee analysis. Licensee Jennifer Kundert told the council the omission was a mistake: "...we had to form 2 separate LLCs ... we mistakenly omitted the other side of the business, which we fully acknowledge," Kundert said, adding that the business is active in community fundraising and would be harmed by revocation.
City counsel and others disputed aspects of the legal contention, with one council attorney noting the statement of economic impact was filed to reflect the licensed premises that serve alcohol. The council voted to go into closed session to deliberate; on return the motion to overrule the objection and adopt the committee recommendation to revoke was moved by Alderperson Kennedy and seconded by Alderperson Seale and carried 14–3.
Why it matters: Revoking an alcohol license is a significant administrative action that can force a business to close. The council's vote followed a committee finding and a contested legal argument about how revenue should be reported under state licensing rules. The transcript records both the licensee's account of a filing mistake and the council's decision to revoke the license.
What happens next: The council indicated the applicant would be brought back for any follow-up questions after the closed session; revocation may trigger state-level processes or appeals under Wisconsin alcohol licensing rules.
