The Madison Alcohol License Review Committee will meet Wednesday, March 20, at 5:30 p.m. As detailed in its agenda (PDF), here are some of the new establishments seeking licenses and other key orders of business.
Sushi Muramoto is requesting permission to add new lounge space adjacent to its current location at Hilldale. As announced in a company press release last week, "The lounge will not serve sushi or food except for some bar menu items. There will be a full bar and a wide selection of Shochu and sake." According to documents filed with the city, the additional space is about 900 square feet and it will add 40 to indoor capacity and 8 to outdoor capacity.
Crescendo is a new "espresso bar and music cafe" at the site of the former Gallup Coffee at 1859 Monroe St. Owner and manager Caitlin Shanahan (also formerly manager at Gallup) plans a "high end coffee shop specializing in niche espresso beverages" with a "small food menu" including sandwiches. In documents filed with the city, Shanahan is requesting permission for a two-tap kegerator as well as selling wine and bottled beer. Shanahan also wants to feature live music in the evenings "on a small stage," focusing on acoustic and spoken word.
Bonta is a new cafe planned for 8452 Old Sauk Rd. Owners Nicholas Mattioli and Vincent Pugliese describe a pizza, salad and panini menu and service from 11 a.m.-9 p.m. If approved, alcohol will be served, but there will be no spearate bar area. The anticipated opening date is listed as May 1, 2013.
The new west side Hy-Vee grocery store at 675 S. Whitney Way (Westgate) is seeking a license not only for its liquor store arm, but to serve beer and wine -- evenings only -- at its full-fledged in-store restaurant, Hy-Vee Market Grille. This in-store dining area will be more elaborate and upscale than its east side location's dine-in deli area. Documents filed with the city indicate a menu similar to Hy-Vee's Urbandale, Iowa, location, which features a buffet, many steaks, chops and other meat entrees from the grill; pasta, chicken and seafood; and a Sunday brunch. (One Wisconsin-centric change that might be planned from the Iowa menu is switching prime rib night off of Friday in favor of, oh, something fried that also begins with an F?) The anticipated opening date is listed as May 14, 2013.
Two high-profile license revocations will also be brought up for discussion. The city has summoned Teddy Stevens, owner of T. Sushi, 301 W. Johnson St., to discuss the state of that business. According to the complaint, Stevens has previously not shown up for "at least" two ALRC meetings when T. Sushi has been on the agenda. Jason Richardson appeared at February's ALRC meeting stating that he was a consultant for the business and trying to reorganize it. The complaint states that the alcohol license is subject to revocation because it has not been used since December 2012 (when T. Sushi closed its doors) and "it appears that Mr. Stevens has turned over operation of T. Sushi to Mr. Richardson and is allowing Mr. Richardson to use Mr. Steven's [sic] liquor license in violation of 125.32(2m) and 125.68(2m).
My Buddies, 4325 Lien Rd., has been closed since Jan. 28, 2013, according to the city's complaint, and so its license is also subject to revocation due to non-use. The complaint states that the building's owner filed a money judgment against the owners of My Buddies for defaulting on their lease in January.
