Some members of the Alcohol License Review Committee cast doubts on the character of the Madhatter Bar at its meeting Wednesday night in light of the bar’s admittance of several underage drinkers only two days after the temporary suspension of its license ended.
While the ALRC ultimately approved the official transfer of Madhatter’s ownership from Ted Gervasi to Susan McKinney, the new owner was questioned at length by the committee regarding the incident.
“We have been talking about this license for months,” Assistant City Attorney Jennifer Zilavy said. “It doesn’t look that anything is going to change.”
McKinney argued she had been severely prohibitive of admittance of underage drinkers in spite of the recent slip.
The slip occurred when a bouncer let in several of his underage friends, McKinney said. McKinney terminated the bouncer immediately and demoted the manager on duty at the time.
“It was alarming to me that it happened,” McKinney said. “I believe that the rest of my staff are really on board and that this is not going to be a chronic problem.”
In addition, the committee renewed temporary alcohol licenses for the “Woof’s Pride” festival and the “Shake the Lake” Independence Day fireworks display.
It discarded State Street Starbucks’ defunct application for a liquor license.
The Starbucks location had previously applied for a liquor license in accordance with Starbucks’ chain-wide initiative to start serving adult beverages in its stores, but withdrew its application after encountering strong opposition from Mayor Paul Soglin, Ald. Mike Verveer, District 4, said.
