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PDF versionBOUNTIFUL -- City leaders have said yes to the possibility of another restaurant with a liquor license, but have drawn a line in the sand on the possibility of that facility being a club that could potentially sell a greater percentage of alcohol to its clientele.
After a spirited discussion, the city council voted 5-0 on Tuesday to grant a beer license to Wendi Lund and Grant Ellis to open a restaurant at approximately 1025 South and 500 West. The council also granted consent to the two being able to pursue a restaurant liquor license with the state liquor authority. Lund and Ellis had hoped to gain council consent to pursue either a restaurant or club license.
The difference in the licenses is significant, according to Lund, who notes new state regulations for selling liquor in restaurants requires an area for preparing the alcohol to be screened from the public. She said the new facility has limited space and a small kitchen and the screened area would be difficult to provide.
The restaurant license requires that at least 70 percent of the sales be food. A club has less stringent rules for preparation of alcohol and shifts the mix of food to alcohol sales to 50-50. There are three restaurants in the city with a liquor license and one club, said Aric Jensen, director of Planning and Economic Development.
Mayor Joe Johnson said he didn't see any advantage to having a club within the city, with a chance to sell a greater percentage of alcohol.
"I think 70-30 is adequate. I think it's appropriate, and I think it works. I think it fits in our community," Johnson said.
Lund argued the guidelines for a club are much like they used to be for restaurants before the new state regulations for a screened area went into effect this year.
City Attorney Russell Mahan noted the state is unlikely to approve a club license, without consent of the local governing body.
The restaurant, which will be called Moxi, will be located in the former Amaco Transmission Building on Highway 89. Jensen said plans call for seating of up to 44 in the new facility.
Johnson asked Mahan to draw up a new ordinance for council consideration, which would eliminate any future consideration of clubs within city guidelines.
The sale of alcohol in this south Davis city has been a political hot potato for several years. One of the most controversial issues of the past two years was a move by city leaders to grant a beer license to a restaurant located across the street from the city library.
