It's apparently located at 402 State St, at the same location as Badger Liquor, the inferior cousin of Riley's liquor, which is just a block away on West Gorham. Like Badger Liquor and Riley's, it is owned by Hyungirl and Jongyean Lee, both of whom were convicted of tax evasion (one is in prison) and thus threatened with revocation of their eight liquor licenses by the city.
After asking around, I'm hearing it's a place the Lee liquor barons have a license for but never use. At least not for public or legal purposes.
So it's a bit ironic that the Tasting Room is one of the two targets city attorneys are taking in response to the tax fraud convictions, as well as numerous allegations of selling alcohol to minors at the active liquor spots, including Riley's and The Vineyard, on University Ave.
They would only lose two licenses: the beer license for Food Market, 626 University Ave., and the liquor license for the Badger Tasting Room, 402 State St. The agreement also stipulates that Hyungirl Lee, who is currently serving a two-year prison sentence, not have involvement in the day-to-day operation and management of the businesses. His wife, Jongyean Lee, would be required to hire a business manager to handle management and operation.
In case you're wondering, "Food Market" is also obsolete, from what I can tell. Only the Church Key bar and The Vineyard remain at that address.
If selling to college freshman and dodging taxes is the chief concern, punishing the places that have engaged in neither seems unlikely to get the point across. It's incredible that another settlement proposed to the ALRC last week was shot down as too lenient.
Nevertheless, this is good news for Madison's downtown population, of-age and underage. Prohibition has been averted once again.
Of course, nothing is final. The ALRC must approve it and then the City Council must vote likewise.
