NEWS
City to review Quinton’s bar
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by Courtney Johnson
Thursday, March 29, 2007
Members of a group who filed a formal complaint against Quinton's Bar and Deli on West Gorham Street are pressing Mayor Dave Cieslewicz to take action against the establishment.
Capitol Neighborhoods, Inc., initially filed a complaint with Madison's Alcohol License Review Committee in October 2006, alleging the business is operating as a tavern and not a restaurant, as is stated on its alcohol license application.
In order to stay within the bounds of the liquor license it has applied for, Quinton's must have more than 50 percent of its revenue come from non-alcohol sources.
In a letter to Cieslewicz dated March 25, 2007, CNI president Ledell Zellers said she is "seriously concerned regarding the lack of action being taken" in response to the complaint and said Quinton's has yet to prove it receives 50 percent of its profits from food sales.
Ald. Mike Verveer, District 4, whose district includes Quinton's, said the city is now taking the complaint seriously.
"The city attorney's office directed the city comptroller's office to audit Quinton's books to determine what percentage of their profit is from alcohol and what's from other sources," Verveer said.
At last Wednesday's ALRC meeting, Verveer said Assistant Attorney and ALRC lawyer Jennifer Zilavy gave a presentation on the status of the audit and said Quinton's had been less than cooperative during the process.
"As to the specifics of what that means, I don't know," Verveer said.
Another rule in the establishment's liquor license is that it must close one hour prior to bar time. Verveer said this is because when Quinton's initially opened, there were suspicions it would turn into a bar.
CNI's allegations against Quinton's are mostly based on anecdotal evidence, Verveer said.
"They actually submitted photos with their complaint to the city last year when they filed it — photos of the outdoor beer garden area packed with students drinking," Verveer said. "So it's based on this anecdotal evidence — with students drinking — that it's really a bar."
Quinton's did not respond to repeated interview requests from The Badger Herald.
According to Verveer, Quinton's has occasionally been a problem from the Madison Police Department as well — underage drinking citations have repeatedly been issued at the establishment.
However, the citations were later revoked when the MPD realized Quinton's is considered a restaurant — and not a bar — and can have underage people in it as long as they aren't drinking alcohol.
Being near campus, Quinton's is often visited by University of Wisconsin students, particularly on weekends, and it has become a popular hangout.
UW senior Brad Kasavana said he would be extremely opposed to Quinton's closing or losing its liquor license.
"Quinton's is one of the few bars on campus that has a very relaxing atmosphere," Kasavana said.
With the weather improving, other students are concerned they will lose a bar with an outdoor serving area.
"It would be sad, in a way, because it's a lot closer to our house than a lot of places are, and it's a really nice bar," UW junior Nicole Allen said. "[There are] not too many bars down here that have outdoor seating."
Quinton's alcohol license expires June 30 and is up for renewal this spring.
Verveer said so-called "problem bars" are called before the ALRC to review the status of their licenses, and Quinton's will likely be called in due to the problems the establishment has faced with CNI and the MPD.
Anonymous (March 29, 2007 @ 4:18am):
Verveer, you're EVERYWHERE!!!! WHEN DO YOU SLEEP?
Anonymous (March 29, 2007 @ 7:10am):
B...b...b...but Quinton!
Anonymous (March 29, 2007 @ 8:44am):
Clearly their revenue is coming from alcohol sales. Their food is terrible.
Anonymous (March 29, 2007 @ 9:15am):
You posted this at 4:18 am. I'm sure there aren't too many alders wandering the streets at that hour.
Anonymous (March 29, 2007 @ 9:34am):
that place is filled with drunken underagers. it's the new kk
Anonymous (March 29, 2007 @ 12:09pm):
It would be a shame to let Quinton's close because it offers students and local business people a nice alternative to the traditional Madison restaurant scene. Yes, they serve alcohol and yes they attract a large crowd on the weeekends, but as long as they equal out their sales of food and alcohol they should stay.
Anonymous (March 29, 2007 @ 2:05pm):
I like the fact that two students are quoted as saying it's a very nice BAR.
Anonymous (March 29, 2007 @ 6:48pm):
First of all, the food is really good there. And second, the place closes an hour early and sells food all night while being packed. It obviously sells more food than anything else and is a great place to hang out at.
Anonymous (March 31, 2008 @ 11:56am):
I just moved here from Chicago, and was ecstatic to find out that Madison had a Quintons, I went to the University of Kansas, where the orignal Quintons is....I ahve not had their awesome potato in 4 years, since I graduated. It is a great restaurant...many restaurants serve liquor, that doesnt make them solely a bar, their are plenty of bars and grilles, that are considered restaurants...lookat Applebees or Chilis, are they called bars just bacause me drink there....NO, please keep this Quintons here...it is my favorite!!!
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