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Omaha council approves several liquor licenses, rejects automotive sales special-use permit
Summary
The council approved Class C and Class A liquor licenses for four businesses — The Tavern, San Patricios Cantina, Craft Axe Omaha and Meadowlark Lounge — by unanimous votes and denied a special-use permit to allow automotive sales at 4801 Q Street (3–4). Council discussed mural preservation and neighborhood impacts during the hearings.
The Omaha City Council approved a slate of liquor-license items and a liquor-license expansion on unanimous votes and rejected a special-use permit for automotive sales after a brief hearing.
The council approved a Class C liquor license for The Tavern (3020 Leavenworth St.). Applicant Skatina Talley described the business as a European-inspired all-day cafe and wine bar with planned hours of 7 a.m. to 11 p.m.; she said the owners hope to open in August and noted her existing local businesses, Sweet Magnolias Bake Shop and No Good Bagels and Brunch. The motion carried 7–0.
Council then approved a Class C liquor license for San Patricios Cantina and Pub at 3232 L Street. Francisco Gonzalez, who said he recently bought Donahue’s Pub and intends to preserve the bar’s Irish identity, told the council he plans to retain the popular community mural; he said he was exploring ways to light the mural and to keep it intact. Councilmembers praised the community history around the site and voted 7–0 to approve the license.
A Class A license for Craft Axe Omaha (2562 Leavenworth St.) was approved after Shawn Murphy (joining by Zoom) said ownership is changing but operations will remain largely the same with minor interior updates. The council approved the application 7–0.
The council also approved an addition to Meadowlark Lounge (3302 Leavenworth St.) to create an outdoor deck at the north end of the building. Applicants Ross Cooley and Mike Wiedemier explained the addition will relocate an existing smoking area and improve patron flow; the council approved the change 7–0.
Separately, the council opened a public hearing on a special-use permit to allow automotive sales in a commercial corridor at 4801 Q Street. No proponents or opponents appeared for that item and, after debate and roll call, the motion to approve the special-use permit failed 3–4.
Votes at a glance: items 6–9 (liquor licenses and addition) passed 7–0; item 10 (special-use permit for automotive sales at 4801 Q Street) failed 3–4. The council advanced other consent and non-action items and adjourned at 3:56 p.m.
