Boulder Beverage Licensing Authority: approvals, continuances and scheduling decisions from the March 18 meeting

The City of Boulder Beverage Licensing Authority took a series of actions on March 18, 2026, approving several liquor licenses, continuing one application, and delegating boundary‑setting to an administrative process.

Key outcomes

- Boulder Pho (renewal, 2855 28th St.): renewed with a condition of monthly administrative check‑ins for six months; suspension reserved if the licensee fails to come into compliance (motion passed unanimously by members present). (See separate story for details.)

- Market and Wine, LLC (d/b/a Sundry Goods, 3303 Bluff St.): transfer of the retail liquor‑store license approved with conditions that the applicant promptly file corrected Individual History Report disclosures, any required premises‑modification application and requested books/records for staff review. Board expressly requested close coordination with licensing staff. Vote: approved.

- Papoose Lover 2 (new hotel‑restaurant license, 2525 Arapaho Ave): hearing continued to the April meeting for the applicant to complete training and better demonstrate readiness; Liquor Pros’ needs‑and‑desires petition had shown neighborhood support but board members wanted the applicant to complete staff‑directed server and manager training before approval.

- Neptune Mountaineering (new beer‑and‑wine license, 633 S. Broadway): approved. Applicant described cafe service area limits (alcohol limited to cafe), staff training and measures to prevent patrons from carrying alcohol through the retail area.

- East & Co. (new hotel‑restaurant license at a mixed‑use site): approved. Applicants presented detailed staffing, training (CRAFT/TIPS), supervisory and patio controls and petitioning that showed community support.

- Gaia Masala & Burger (new hotel‑restaurant license, 1116 13th St.): approved. Applicant described existing multi‑site operations, daily pre‑shift checks and monthly manager meetings; third‑party petitioning showed strong neighborhood support.

- Administrative change: The board voted to move routine boundary setting to an administrative process (City staff to set default radii and use judgment for denser areas), subject to final City Council process; staff will publish boundaries on the hearing agenda when appropriate.

Scheduling

Licensing staff set a short, first special hearing on Tuesday, March 24 at 5:00 p.m. to accommodate an urgent administrative matter and will poll members about a second follow‑up hearing in the March 30–April 8 window to meet statutory timing requirements.

What the decisions mean

Most approvals included explicit instructions that applicants must coordinate with city licensing staff to file any outstanding documentation (manager registrations, premises‑modification applications, disclosures, or operating policies) and to complete required training for employees before selling alcohol. The Authority used a combination of petition results, staff site visits, and oral testimony to reach its decisions.

Provenance (overview)

Topic intro: SEG 049 (Riverside status) and key approvals through SEG 1616 (Gaia Masala discussion and approvals).

Actions (summary list)

[{"kind":"motion","motion":"Renew license for Boulder Pho with condition of monthly check‑ins for six months; possible suspension if not in good standing","mover":"Leah Roberts","second":"Ginger Barnes","vote_record":[{"member":"Leah Roberts","vote":"yes"},{"member":"Ginger Barnes","vote":"yes"},{"member":"Lanse Crane","vote":"yes"}],"tally":{"yes":3,"no":0,"abstain":0},"outcome":"approved","notes":"Monthly check‑ins required."},{"kind":"motion","motion":"Approve transfer (change of structure) of Market and Wine LLC (Sundry Goods) conditioned on prompt supplemental disclosures, premises‑modification application and production of books and records to staff","mover":"Leah Roberts","second":"Ginger Barnes","vote_record":[{"member":"Leah Roberts","vote":"yes"},{"member":"Ginger Barnes","vote":"yes"},{"member":"Lanse Crane","vote":"yes"}],"tally":{"yes":3,"no":0,"abstain":0},"outcome":"approved","notes":"Approval conditioned on corrective filings."},{"kind":"motion","motion":"Continue Papoose Lover 2 to April hearing to allow applicant time to complete training and demonstrate readiness; Liquor Pros need-and-desires petition not required to reappear","mover":"Leah Roberts","second":"Lanse Crane","vote_record":[{"member":"Leah Roberts","vote":"yes"},{"member":"Ginger Barnes","vote":"yes"},{"member":"Lanse Crane","vote":"yes"}],"tally":{"yes":3,"no":0,"abstain":0},"outcome":"tabled","notes":"Continue to April; Liquor Pros not required to reappear."},{"kind":"motion","motion":"Grant Neptune Mountaineering a beer‑and‑wine license (retail cafe area) with staff training and operational conditions","mover":"Ginger Barnes","second":"Leah Roberts","vote_record":[{"member":"Leah Roberts","vote":"yes"},{"member":"Ginger Barnes","vote":"yes"},{"member":"Lanse Crane","vote":"yes"}],"tally":{"yes":3,"no":0,"abstain":0},"outcome":"approved","notes":"Service limited to cafe area; staff training required."},{"kind":"motion","motion":"Grant East & Co. a hotel‑restaurant liquor license based on petition results and proposed staff training and controls","mover":"Leah Roberts","second":"Ginger Barnes","vote_record":[{"member":"Leah Roberts","vote":"yes"},{"member":"Ginger Barnes","vote":"yes"},{"member":"Lanse Crane","vote":"yes"}],"tally":{"yes":3,"no":0,"abstain":0},"outcome":"approved","notes":"Board praised robust training plan."},{"kind":"motion","motion":"Grant Gaia Masala & Burger a hotel‑restaurant liquor license","mover":"Leah Roberts","second":"Ginger Barnes","vote_record":[{"member":"Leah Roberts","vote":"yes"},{"member":"Ginger Barnes","vote":"yes"},{"member":"Lanse Crane","vote":"yes"}],"tally":{"yes":3,"no":0,"abstain":0},"outcome":"approved","notes":"Applicant has other licenses and petition support."},{"kind":"motion","motion":"Make boundary‑setting an administrative process with staff discretion on radius and publish boundaries on the agenda","mover":"Leah Roberts","second":"Lanse Crane","vote_record":[{"member":"Leah Roberts","vote":"yes"},{"member":"Ginger Barnes","vote":"yes"},{"member":"Lanse Crane","vote":"yes"}],"tally":{"yes":3,"no":0,"abstain":0},"outcome":"approved","notes":"Subject to City Council procedure."}]

Speakers (representative)

Leah Roberts — Chair (BLA) Ginger Barnes — Member (BLA) Lanse Crane — Member (BLA) Katelyn Kellogg — Licensing clerk, City of Boulder Kristen Teague — Licensing staff, City of Boulder Carol Johnson — Liquor Pros petitioning Erin McCullough — Oedipus Petitioning Gregory Topel, Josh Dinar, Mailee Spung, Nand Nyaupane — applicants

Proper names mentioned

["Boulder Pho","Sundry Goods (Market and Wine LLC)","Papoose Lover 2","Neptune Mountaineering","East & Co.","Gaia Masala & Burger","City of Boulder","Liquor Pros","Oedipus Petitioning"]

Notes on process and compliance

Most approvals carried the condition that applicants work with licensing staff to file any outstanding documentation, register managers and complete required staff training before serving alcohol. The board also directed staff to administer boundary settings administratively moving forward and scheduled a short special hearing March 24 at 5:00 p.m., with a second follow‑up date to be polled among members.