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Mondays bar to open outdoor seating area

Customers of Mondays bar on State Street can look forward to outdoor seating after the Alcohol License Review Committee approved the addition of a sidewalk café Wednesday night. 

The policy, which passed by one vote, sparked debate over “drinks only” trends on State Street. Alcohol Policy Coordinator Katherine Plominski expressed some concern over having yet another sidewalk café, but without actual food.

“We are opening the door for places that don’t serve any food to then have sidewalk cafés,” said Plominski.  

Mondays, located at 523 State St., will add a sidewalk café with five tables and 18 chairs and will possibly serve chips and pretzels along with alcohol.

“The whole purpose of a sidewalk café is café, and café means food,” Plominski said. “I think they’re great for coffee houses and things like that, but if it’s a 100-percent bar with no food, it’s doable, but can be difficult.”  

One potential problem expressed by committee members was that these sidewalk cafés are beginning to turn downtown Madison into a place where people can just drink outside.  

Plominski said another concern is rowdy glass throwing and other behavior problems with college students late at night. There was some discussion for staffing people outside at night to control the situation.

Gary Garten, the owner of Mondays, said they were hoping to have outdoor seating because the space is available and the bar is often crowded.

The vote among the committee was close, and the approval won by only one vote.  

City Council President Ald. Tim Bruer, District 14, and Ald. Mike Verveer, District 4, supported the application without question and did not think it posed a threat.

“The fact is that there are other bars in downtown Madison with sidewalk cafés,” Verveer said.

He added the Irish Pub and Genna’s, which are located downtown and serve no food, have had a sidewalk café for some time. Earlier this year, a sidewalk café was also granted for the Cardinal Bar located at 418 Wilson St.

“I didn’t think that it was anything to be concerned about,” Verveer said. “I was actually somewhat surprised that it ended up being controversial tonight. Mondays is a long-time establishment with no problems, especially with the police.” 

Another city ordinance requires outdoor bars on State Street to stop serving alcohol at 11:30 p.m. and bring their furniture inside by midnight. The same law requires those establishments to only allow seated people to be served. Fences surrounding these sidewalks are also required.    

Verveer added there are other establishments that serve limited food, and “more often than not,” the people outside are enjoying cocktails as opposed to food.

Plominski said she did not think the addition of these outdoor cafés that serve primarily alcohol would impact student safety. 

“If it does, the city will take action and manage the problem,” Plominski added.