Two Iowa City bars resolve concerns, seeking liquor licenses

Two downtown Iowa City bars whose liquor licenses were in question may be getting good news from the city next week.

Sidelines Bar & Grill and One-Eye Jakes have resolved concerns of the police and fire departments, and their liquor license applications are on the City Council's agenda Tuesday night.

Owners of both bars had been before the council last month seeking liquor licenses.

The council voted 6-0 to deny a request by Oscar and Heather German for Sidelines, which would be a new bar at 320 E. Burlington St.

Heather German operated Los Cocos, a bar that police were called to frequently and which German voluntarily closed after a person was shot and wounded in its parking lot in August.

But Police Chief Sam Hargadine said the new liquor license request stood on its own. He had recommended the council deny the liquor license because of some unresolved court judgments against the Germans.

Hargadine said those matters have been resolved, and he's now recommending the council grant the liquor license request. He said police never had a problem with the management of Los Cocos, it was more the clientele.

The council delayed action on the renewal application from One-Eyed Jakes, 18-20 S. Clinton St. Fire Chief Andy Rocca had recommended against the application, saying a narrow stairway could make it difficult for people to exit in an emergency.

That was an issue the Fire Department identified more than three years ago. But bar owner Mike Porter said the work was taking so long because it was complicated and expensive, although he did not get a building permit until early January, something some council members criticized.

Porter told the council the work would be completed soon, and Rocca now says the work is done and addresses the problem.