After an earlier warning that there would be no new bar licenses issued until May, the Utah Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control’s governing commission surprised applicants Tuesday by handing out two of the coveted licenses.
At the DABC commission’s monthly meeting — after a brief interruption by a fire alarm — one license was given because of the growth of the state’s population, and the other was forfeited voluntarily by Below Zero, a Salt Lake City establishment that had to delay its opening date.
One bar license went to the Saddlebag Saloon, at 2612 N. Highway 162 in Eden, the small town north of Pineview Reservoir in Weber County. The saloon has been serving beer under a tavern license, but proprietor Tim Campbell testified at February’s DABC commission meeting that he was turning customers away constantly, because many people in his community don’t drink beer. Campbell also reminded the commission that Eden has few bars in the area.
The second bar license went to Trolley Wing Co., in Salt Lake City’s Trolley Square — ending the four-month quest of owner Jesse Wilkerson to bring a license back to the iconic location, after he transferred its existing license to a larger location in Taylorsville.
“Here we are, still standing in line, hat in hand,” Wilkerson told commissioners Tuesday. He recounted the “tough decision” to move Trolley Wing’s original license to Taylorsville, saying “we could afford to do this in the winter. But now that it’s warming up, the worst-case scenario for us is that we’ll get it by spring. … Maybe some of the other businesses on this list can survive until June. I don’t know that we can.”
But while Wilkerson finally walked out of a DABC meeting a happy man, other applicants will stay parked in line. Those include Fenice Mediterranean Bistro in Salt Lake City, which now operates under a restaurant license, and three Salt Lake City establishments now under tavern licenses: RoHa Brewing, Shades Tap Room and Durango Bar & Night Club.
Joining the list of bar license applicants are: Quarters in Sugar House, Franklin Ave. Cocktail & Kitchen, and Paxton Pub, all in Salt Lake City and projected to open in April; The Spoke in Moab, projected to open in June; Marquis in Park City, projected to open in July; Salt Lake City’s Edison House, projected to open in August; Proper Brewing’s Moab Taphouse, also projected to open in August; Fife Brewing Company in Salt Lake City, projected to open in September; and two locations for ‘Bout Time Pub and Grub, in Bluffdale and Saratoga Springs, both scheduled to open in October.
By June, commission chair Thomas Jacobsen announced, it is likely that nine more bar licenses — actually 9½, including a seasonal winter license — will be available. Jacobsen encouraged public input as the commission decides how to distribute them.
“This is kind of a one-time situation,” Jacobsen said. “We would invite all of you, invite your friends, invite any other interested parties to come, and speak to us next month about ideas. We will also take ideas in writing that you might have, for those of you who are scared of public speaking.”
The extra bar licenses will be offset by a change in Utah law, enacted during this winter’s legislative session, that eliminates the ability of establishments to buy their licenses from other businesses. Any business wanting to buy a license from another establishment should reach out to the DABC no later than May 10, Jacobsen said, so the proposed purchase can be put on the commission’s May agenda.
The commission approved all 11 applicants seeking restaurant licenses Tuesday: La Puente Mexican Restaurant in American Fork, Casa Tequilana in Leeds, The Crack Shack in Lehi, Via 313 Pizzeria in Lehi, Cheddar’s Scratch Kitchen in Ogden, El Mexsal Mexican and Salvadorian Food in Provo, Sushinaloa in Provo, Pizza Volta in Salt Lake City, De Los Muertos Sugarhouse in Salt Lake City, Katrina’s Mexican Restaurant & Cantina in Salt Lake City, and Chili’s Grill & Bar in Saratoga Springs.
Other approvals included: The Juan Cafe in Mexican Hat and Stellar Wings No. 1 in Salt Lake City, which both received limited service restaurant applications; Siepre in Draper, which received a reception center license; and Jarochos Restaurant in Layton, which was given a beer-only restaurant license.
The Utah Legislature, in its recent session, gave DABC the money it requested for technological upgrades, said Tiffany Clason, the agency’s executive director. That means the DABC will start IT upgrades that will allow businesses to apply for liquor licenses online. Also, liquor stores will get more sophisticated inventory management tools, which will help speed up delivery of wine club and special orders to the stores.
Clason said the liquor agency also received money to begin its pilot program, Click ‘n’ Collect, that will allow customers to order alcohol online — though they will have to go into a designated state liquor store in person to pick up their orders.
Also, Clason noted, the Legislature approved a new name for the agency — the Division of Alcoholic Beverage Services — effective June 1.
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