Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Liquor Licensing topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Council approves Class B (beer-only) license for Columbus Market pending building inspection
Summary
The Columbus Common Council voted 3–2 on July 21 to approve a permanent Class B (beer-only) license for Columbus Market LLC d/b/a The Lunchroom at 501 Park Avenue, contingent on passage of required building and fire inspections; the decision followed debate over state rules, inspection items and precedent.
The Columbus Common Council voted 3–2 on July 21 to approve a Class B (beer-only) license for Columbus Market LLC d/b/a The Lunchroom, contingent on the business passing the required building inspection and the customary fire inspection.
Raj Singh, one of the owners, told the council the proposed lunchroom space is a small, can-only area intended for customers who come for events such as the popular fish fry. "This particular license has been issued in many municipalities," Singh said, adding that the business spent about $15,000 to construct the partitioned room and install a separate door. Building inspector Jeff Fitzwilliams told the council that part of the work was done before permits were pulled and that an initial inspection raised egress and partition concerns which the owner addressed on a second inspection, though a final liquor-license inspection had not been completed.
Clerk Susan cautioned that "just because it's on the agenda does not make it legal," noting staff had included a memo describing outstanding requirements. Attorney Johnson told the council that the legal path to issue a beer-on-premises license exists but stressed that all of Jeff's checklist items (separate entrance, walls to ceiling where required, separate bookkeeping and defined premises) must be fully met before the space could be considered compliant. "Once the license is issued to Mr. Singh, he has property rights in that license," Attorney Johnson said, noting revocation or nonrenewal follows statutory process.
Alder Finkler said she was comfortable with approval so long as the inspections were documented and passed; other members expressed concern about setting a precedent or issuing exceptions to statutory language. After debate the council amended the motion to make issuance explicitly contingent on building (and fire, per ordinance) inspection approval. The roll call recorded Ayes 3, Nays 2; the clerk announced "Ayes have it."
