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Committee recommends denying District Pourhouse's request to add intoxicating liquor sales
Summary
District Pourhouse representatives asked the Ashwaubenon committee to combine their Class B beer license with an intoxicating-liquors endorsement. After questioning about scarce regular licenses and whether the business model can serve full-liquor demand, the committee recommended denial and will forward the matter to the Village Board on July 28.
The Village of Ashwaubenon Public Works and Protection Committee on July 7 recommended denying a request by District Pourhouse LLC to combine its Class B beer license with a Class B intoxicating-liquor endorsement and directed the matter to the Village Board on July 28.
April Smith and Tyler Smith, representing District Pourhouse, told the committee the business has had "an incredible first 5 months" and that their initial plan projected beverages as about 20% of sales. Tyler Smith said the lack of cocktails has caused some customers to leave: "At a minimum, three people a week" have walked out after learning cocktails were not available. They said the establishment had no police issues and described controls for drink limits and pre-mixed cocktails on tap.
Administrative staff explained license availability: a regular Class B license became available due to a nonrenewal at the Hy-Vee location, and the village may have two reserve licenses that originated from Hobart. The transcript notes reserve licenses carry a $10,000 fee and have less portability than regular licenses; staff advised the committee on the difference between a Class B beer license and a Class B intoxicating-liquors license.
Committee members expressed concern about using a scarce regular license for a smaller-format operation. One member said, "I cannot see giving up one of our license(s) when something else big could come to town," and questioned whether the Pourhouse model could serve the full range of liquor requests that a traditional bar can.
A motion to deny the Class B intoxicating-liquors request was made and seconded; the committee approved the motion by voice vote. The committee chair said the denial recommendation will be forwarded to the Village Board for final action at its July 28 meeting.
The transcript does not include a recorded roll-call tally for the vote; the committee characterized the result as the motion carrying by voice vote.
