A bar and 11 other businesses all received liquor licenses at Thursday’s meeting of the state’s liquor commission — and SugarHouse Pub, where underage drinkers were caught by law enforcement in November, will have to remain closed for another 40 days.
SugarHouse Pub was the target of a law enforcement operation on Nov. 22 and received three violations, each a first offense: sale to a minor, fail to verify proof of age, and minor on bar premises. Through an emergency order, the DABS suspended alcohol sales at the bar in December, and Sugar House Pub has been closed since then.
On Thursday, the commission for the Utah Department of Alcoholic Beverage Services (DABS) voted unanimously to approve a settlement agreement for SugarHouse Pub. That settlement agreement will bring two penalties: a 40-day closure and a $7,000 fine. The closure begins Friday, and will lift on March 11. In total, SugarHouse Pub will have been closed for 95 days.
Michelle Schmitt, spokesperson for the DABS, confirmed that after the 40-day closure lifts in March, SugarHouse Pub will be allowed to sell alcohol again. She said the department lifted the emergency order after meeting with the owners of the bar several times, and that the owners revised their responsible alcohol service plan to “acceptable standards” and hired new staffers.
“These actions gave the department confidence that SugarHouse Pub is taking the safety and legal problems seriously and are committed to changing management practices to prevent future violations,” Schmitt said.
Tanner Lenart, SugarHouse Pub’s attorney, said Thursday, “We are thankful that, working with the DABS staff and commissioners, we were able to come to this resolution.”
The bar Mayor Voss on Salt Lake City’s Edison Street, which The Salt Lake Tribune reported had closed in the fall, is no longer meeting the minimum requirements to hold a liquor license, said Samuel McHenry, the assistant attorney general. Commissioners voted to have the license forfeited.
The one bar that received a liquor license Thursday is Shades Tap Room, which is opening a new location at 1388 S. 300 West in Salt Lake City in early February.
The businesses that received their licenses are:
• Mint Tapas and Sushi 5, 519 E. 12300 South, suite D, Draper.
• Snow Canyon Retirement Community, 2778 W. Lava Hills Rd, Santa Clara (conditional, projected opening Feb. 27).
• Book Club Bistro, 250 Red Cliffs Drive, St. George (conditional, projected opening Feb. 1).
• The Continental, 63 E. Center St., suite 101, Provo (conditional, projected opening Feb. 14).
• Chili’s Bar & Grill, in the Founder’s Pointe development near 1000 North and Main Street, Tooele (conditional, projected opening March 1).
• Strap Tank Brewery, St. George (conditional, projected opening March 1).
• The Eatery, 10 S. Main St., Fillmore (conditional, projected opening March 1).
• Jailhouse Cafe, 101 N. Main St., Moab (conditional, projected opening March 7).
• Hill’s Kitchen, 2188 S. Highland Drive, Salt Lake City (conditional, projected opening March 17).
• Chopfuku, West Jordan (conditional, projected opening March 21).
• LongHorn Steakhouse, West Valley City (conditional, projected opening Nov. 4).
Three producers of alcoholic products also received licenses to sell their items to the public as package agencies:
• Hobbled Dog Cidery, Logan. Plans to open in the summer.
• Purple Sky Winery, 2847 N. 1600 West, Pleasant View. No projected opening date.
• Chappell Brewing, open at 2285 S. Main St., South Salt Lake.
After Thursday’s meeting, there are five bar licenses and 59 full-service restaurant licenses available.
The commission also announced that registration is open for a drawing for a chance to purchase some rare alcohol products, including Pappy Van Winkle bourbon and Sazerac Antique Collection items. Registration will remain open until Feb. 9; to register, visit abs.utah.gov/allocatedandrare.
