Iowa City bar again in liquor license dispute

IOWA CITY - The city is again looking critically at the liquor license of One-Eyed Jakes.

But the downtown bar may be able to avoid a fight if it resolves the concerns of the Fire Department over the width of its front stairway - an old issue between the bar and city.

The City Council will take up the matter Monday, when it considers One-Eyed Jakes' application for the renewal of its liquor license.

For now, Fire Chief Andy Rocca is recommending against the bar's application, saying the narrow stairway could make it difficult for people to exit in an emergency. One-Eyed Jakes, 1820 S. Clinton St., covers two stories and is one of the biggest bars in Iowa City.

Rocca said his understanding is construction is under way to widen the stairway to at least the required 44 inches. The fire marshal is to inspect the building Friday, and if the report comes back positive, that would alleviate Rocca's concerns.

“We're heading down the right path here,” he said.

Mike Porter, the bar's owner, did not immediately return phone and e-mail messages Thursday.

The stairway has been a point of contention for more than three years and played a big role in the councils denial of a liquor license to One-Eyed Jakes in January 2008.

The city and Porter then came to an agreement that included the city reversing the denial in exchange for the stairway to be widened by Dec. 31, 2009.

A building permit was issued for work at One-Eye Jakes on Jan. 6, but as of two days later, the project was incomplete, Rocca said.

Porter currently is in another fight with the city over the recent denial of a liquor license for another of his downtown establishments, Summit Restaurant and Bar, for violating a city policy on the number of underage patrons ticketed for possessing alcohol.

That policy is in question after having been challenged by some bar owners, including Porter.

Porter's bars have been allowed to remain open during the disputes with the city. The city's decision on a liquor license can be appealed to the Iowa Alcoholic Beverages Division.