The Safety and Licensing Committee met 03/26/2025. There were two licensing-related items that they decided to hold until the 04/09/2025 meeting of the committee. One was the liquor license change of agent application for Tandem Wine and Beer and the other was the Class A Beer and Class A liquor license application for Jai Sung Mah Pool Club.
I’ve prepared a transcript of the discussion for download:
TANDEM WINE AND BEER – Alderperson Chris Croatt (District 14) the chair of the committee asked that the liquor license agent change request be held in order to provide time for the City Attorney’s Office and possibly the Police Department to weigh in on new information that had arisen regarding the current licensed agent for the establishment.
Although the nature of that information was not discussed at the meeting, a search of past meeting agendas indicates that a gentleman named George Koenig is the current licensed agent for Tandem Wine and Beer. A search of the Wisconsin Circuit Court Access website indicates that a person with his name, at his address, was recently convicted of driving with a prohibited alcohol content level (3rd offense) and also had a charge of possession of cocaine read into the record. Additionally, Karter Thompson, the individual who is applying to become the successor agent of the license listed her address as being the same as Mr. Koenig’s. The application for the change of agent does not provide details on any of this with Ms. Thompson merely stating that the reason for applying to become the successor agent is because “I am present at tandem during operating hours.”
JAI SUNG MAH POOL CLUB – This business was applying for Class A Beer and Class A Liquor license. Class A licenses do not allow on-site consumption but are intended to facilitate purchases of packaged alcohol that will be taken off-site (such as one would make at a grocery store). This business did at one time have a Class B license which allowed on-site consumption. Alderperson William Siebers (District 1) said the business was located in his district and had been the source of huge problems in the neighborhood. Eventually, the license had either been revoked or surrendered and the neighborhood had been very peaceful and quiet since then. He stated, “I fear what might happen if they start up again,” and actually made a motion to deny the license.
Additionally, Alderperson Sheri Hartzheim (District 13) who was not a member of the committee but was present at the meeting expressed concerns that, per the application, the applicant had been convicted of fraud.
A search of the Wisconsin Circuit Court Access website indicates that she was convicted of MA-Fraud/Benefit Application and Misstating Facts in Food Stamp Application each of which were felonies.
Because the item had come forward with a recommendation to approve there was no memo from the Police Department answering any questions about these issues. Assistant City Attorney Zak Buruin cautioned against denying the application without having a clear basis for the denial, saying, “I’m concerned that I would want a better explanation for the record as to the basis for any recommended denial, and I can’t say authoritatively, one way or the other, whether these convictions would provide that without being violative of some of the other statutes regarding discrimination that we’ve talked about previously, ad nauseum. So, I would provide that caution and ask for a fuller explanation as to the reason for the denial. Alder Siebers has provided some explanation in terms of piece of the neighborhood, but I think a full record would be advisable before a vote one way or the other is taken, if it’s going to be taken tonight.”
The committee ended up holding both items until the 04/09/2025 committee meeting.
View full meeting details and video here: https://cityofappleton.legistar.com/MeetingDetail.aspx?ID=1281678&GUID=DB3E08F6-2585-49BF-AC3B-77607BB208B8
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