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Council approves alcohol license renewal for Knuth Bookseller with safeguards for children
Summary
The Ripon Common Council approved a one-year alcohol license renewal for Knuth Bookseller LLC at 225 Watson Street after staff described a separate non-alcohol children’s area and said signage and owner coordination could limit alcohol near where children gather.
The Ripon Common Council on Tuesday approved an annual alcohol beverage license renewal for Knuth Bookseller LLC, covering July 1, 2026, through June 30, 2027, for fermented malt beverages and intoxicating liquor at 225 Watson Street.
Councilmember Ellen Dretske pressed staff for details about how the business would keep alcohol away from children. "I would like to know what accommodations are being made so that children are not in, or alcohol is not in an area where the children gather," Dretske said during discussion.
A city staff member responding to the council said the business holds a restaurant license and maintains a separate area at the back of the first floor where alcohol is not served to the children’s space. "This is a licensed restaurant… they have a section in the back where there is not alcohol allowed where the kids go," the staff member said, adding that owners could be asked to add signage and other measures to reinforce separation.
Council members also queried whether restaurant sanitation and equipment requirements applied to the location; staff confirmed the restaurant license carries the applicable food-service rules. The council approved the license renewal by voice vote with no recorded roll-call tally provided in the meeting transcript.
The approval allows Knuth Bookseller LLC to continue serving alcohol in its licensed restaurant area next fiscal year; council members said they could follow up with owners or enforcement staff if concerns about signage or separation arise.
