With Oconto out of liquor licenses, the Common Council faces a decision this month on which business won't be able to serve alcohol

Kevin Dittman, Green Bay Press-Gazette
·4 min read

OCONTO - The Oconto Common Council finds itself in a bind as more businesses are seeking a license to serve alcohol in the city limits than the city can allow.

Overall, 20 applications have come in for 18 licenses.

City officials thought a solution was to not renew a pair of licenses for two businesses that had been closed, French Town Franks and the Nautical. However, both operators pleaded with the Council to save their licenses because they hope to reopen.

The new license year takes effect July 1. The Council bypassed making a decision during their May meeting to reconsider their options, but now the clock is ticking as the existing licenses expire on June 30.

In an effort to create room, the Committee of the Whole voted May 9 to revoke the liquor licenses for French Town Franks, the Nautical Bar and the Oconto Yacht Club.

When the Council was subsequently given the choice in May to sign off on revoking the license of either French Town Franks or the Nautical Bar so that Boos II could have one, they decided to deny the proposal.

The Council will next meet on June 20 to determine who will be out of luck.

Who has applied for a Class B tavern license in Oconto?

Overall, 20 businesses are seeking the 18 licenses. They are:

  • Angie’s Sidetrack, 522 Broadway Ave.

  • BJ’S, 218 Park Ave.

  • Boo’s II, 918 Main St.

  • Brother’s Three, 106 Superior Ave.

  • Crivello’s Main Street Bar & Grill, 818 Main St.

  • French Town Franks, 303 Brazeau Ave.

  • Julie’s Supper Club, 532 Jefferson St.

  • Log Jam Saloon, 900 Main St.

  • Los Tres Magueyes, 106 Smith Ave.

  • Mookie’s Pub, 301 Collins Ave.

  • Nautical, 126 Huron St.

  • Oconto Elks Lodge 887, 310 Farnsworth Ave.

  • Oconto Riviera, 1240 McDonald St.

  • Oconto Yacht Club Inc., 1781 Yacht Club Road

  • Play By Play, LLC, 211 Superior Ave.

  • Shiloh Lounge, 124 Chicago St.

  • The Dockside, Inc., 1302 Harbor Road

  • The Garage, 1200 Main St.

  • The Good Place, 1128 Main St.

  • The Yard, 116 Holtwood Way

Why can't Oconto just issue more than 18 licenses?

Wisconsin law limits the number of licenses available in each municipality. The quotas are based on population and the number of licenses in effect in the municipality as of Dec. 1, 1997.

In Oconto's case, that number is 18 for the city.

What's the argument to remove French Town Franks' license?

French Town Franks was closed for a little less than five months – from just before Christmas to the end of April – as owners Paul and Christine Reed say they struggled to find staff.

They have had a liquor license for almost a year. Paul Reed says they plan to resume selling food and alcohol when he has the staffing.

"We have also been working with the VFW for fundraisers with them and we have more stuff in the future – seven dates for that," Christine Reed told the Council.

On May 11, the local Veterans of Foreign Wars group sold hot dogs and burgers on the property to raise funds for the Oconto County Veterans Memorial.

What's the argument to remove the Nautical's license?

Eric Schanau, the owner of The Nautical Bar, listed the property for sale near the end of 2022, but the sale fell through.

Then the property sustained water damage over the winter from "a furnace malfunction" that required repairs.

"It’s repaired; ready to go. It could be opened up literally anytime," Schaunau told the Council. "I thought it could happen in literally days but realistically, it’s a little bit further out for everything together as far as completion."

Why remove the liquor license for the Yacht Club?

City Administrator Brittney Bickel said the Yacht Club can obtain a state permit instead of going through the city like they had been doing.

"So instead of taking one from our quota, they can obtain one from the unlimited amount that that state has to offer," Bickel said. "That’s because they are a private club."

What's changed since the 2022 applications?

Sixteens Oconto businesses applied for tavern licenses ahead of the June 2022 vote.

Twelve of them are applying for renewal for 2023-24: The Dockside, The Good Place, Shiloh Lounge, Oconto Yacht Club, Nautical, Brother's Three, The Garage, Oconto Elks Lodge 887, Crivello's Main Street Bar & Grill, Log Jam Saloon, Mookie's Pub and BJ'S.

The four who aren't reapplying are Bickel's Bar, Liquid Supply House, Gary's Corner Pub and Wise Guys Riverside Bar.

Meanwhile, the eight who are seeking a full year's license for the first time are Angie's Sidetrack, Boo's II, French Town Franks, Julie's Supper Club, Los Tres Magueyes, Oconto Riviera, Play by Play and The Yard.

Contact Kevin Dittman at 920-431-8416 or kdittman@gannett.com.

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This article originally appeared on Green Bay Press-Gazette: Oconto Common Council faces decision on who to deny liquor license