Liquor license renewal denied for another one of Steve McFadden's bars in Des Moines

Another one of Steven McFadden’s bars is set to run dry.

For the second time in two weeks, a city council has voted unanimously to deny a liquor license to an establishment owned by McFadden, who has faced legal repercussions in connection with stalking, harassment and assault of women he's been in relationships with.

The Des Moines council's decision on a license renewal for the Tipsy Crow Tavern, 102 S.W. Third St., came despite a request from McFadden's lawyer to the City Attorney’s Office that the issue receive further discussion at another meeting.

McFadden did not address the council and could not immediately be reached for comment.

Council member Joe Gatto, co-owner of Baratta’s Restaurant, told the Des Moines Register that having a liquor license is a "privilege."

"You‘ve got to treat it that way. You’ve got to be a good community leader, and you’ve got to abide by a whole lot of rules,” Gatto said. “Unfortunately, when you don’t take that seriously, like (McFadden) has done, it makes that difficult to still stay in business.”

The West Des Moines City Council declined to renew a liquor license for another bar owned by McFadden, the Grumpy Goat Tavern on Mills Civic Parkway, earlier this month, citing his recent criminal behavior as not meeting “the definition of a 'person of good moral character.’”

McFadden also owns Dough Mama Pizzeria in downtown Des Moines and Fat Charlie's Tavern in Urbandale. He recently sold Boomers Bicycle Lounge in West Des Moines and an Ankeny Grumpy Goat Tavern location. He told the Register in an email that a lack of business and desire from customers to support a “local” operator influenced his decision.

McFadden misrepresenation is grounds for denial, city says

The City Council had received a recommendation from City Manager Scott Sanders to turn down the license application. It detailed multiple federal tax liens and one state tax lien; a June 2022 disorderly conduct charge against McFadden in Florida that had been dropped; McFadden's guilty plea in October 2015 to a third-degree harassment charge, reduced from first-degree harassment; and a November 2012 conviction for public intoxication.

McFadden also recently pleaded guilty to harassment and unauthorized use and placement of a GPS tracking device to track a former girlfriend. He was sentenced to probation.

In addition, Sanders accused McFadden of misrepresenting facts on a 2021 liquor license application. Sanders wrote that McFadden responded "No" to a question asking if anyone in an ownership position at his business had been charged with or convicted of a felony offense. At the time, McFadden was facing a charge of willful assault causing serious injury, a felony in Iowa, Sanders wrote.

“That evidence carried weight with me. There was a clear record and we took action,” said Council member Josh Mandelbaum, whose ward includes the Tipsy Crow.

Mandelbaum added that he anticipated McFadden would appeal the decision.

“I'm hoping (McFadden) gets his personal life figured out, and he can move on from this," Gatto said. “As of right now, I think we’ve made the right decision.”

Next steps for the Tipsy Crow

McFadden’s downtown bar can continue serving alcohol until the state sends the Tipsy Crow its official notice of the city’s decision, Gatto said. After that, McFadden will have 30 days to file an appeal. The license will remain valid until the appeal is approved or denied.

If no appeal is filed within those 30 days, the location’s license would no longer be valid.

There was no announcement regarding changes in operations on the tavern's Facebook page as of Monday evening. “College Night at the Tipsy Crow,” featuring a beer pong tournament, is still scheduled for Thursdays throughout the month of August.

The venue has previously come under fire for establishing a dress code that barred patrons from wearing clothing such as baggy jeans, plain T-shirts and construction boots. It was removed after some voiced criticism on social media that it was an attempt to keep out young Black men.

“It's going to be up to the community whether they’re going to support and patronize his establishment or they’re not,” Gatto said. “It's completely up to them.”

This article has been edited to correct who requested the decision on the license renewal be delayed to another meeting.

Staff writer Virginia Barreda contributed to this article.

Addison Lathers covers growth and development for the Des Moines metro. Reach her at ALathers@registermedia.com.

This article originally appeared on Des Moines Register: Steve McFadden's Tipsy Crow Tavern fail to get liquor license renewed