JACKSON HOLE, WYO – The town council will deliberate on Monday a recommendation by its staff that Lotus Organic Restaurant have its liquor license revoked for violations of town code and state statute.
Planet Palate, doing business as Lotus Organic Restaurant, has been repeatedly warned for its misuse of a restaurant liquor license granted it, which is restricted in nature to uses more associated with a bar. Owners of a restaurant liquor license are allowed to serve alcohol only with meals. They are also limited in how they may promote their establishments so as not to compete with full liquor license establishments.
“A clear violation of town and state liquor laws has taken place, based on the police report, the police video demonstrating what occurred at the Lotus Restaurant on Saturday, March 25, and the clerk’s two previous warning letters explicitly referencing the illegality of operating as a bar,” wrote staff in preparing a recommendation of revocation due to multiple and repeated violations.
Town officials say Lotus has continued to advertise itself as a bar, including the scheduling of late night dance parties. Several complaints were fielded by the town culminating in a visit from the Jackson Police Department where body-camera video was used to document a party in progress. At the March 25 party, police observed several potential violations of a restaurant liquor license including:
Customers referred to the establishment as a bar; Customers believed the kitchen was closed and only alcohol was available; There was a bouncer at the door; Customer IDs were checked prior to entrance; The tables on the main floor were completely removed to create a dance floor and that such space was being used exclusively as a dance floor; The main floor was standing room only; A $5 cover charge was required to get in; Wristbands were issued to customers; The manager said there were restaurant services available, which she specified as a pot of self-serve chili for $10 located at the counter near the entrance; The manager and owner agreed they were “pushing the limits” and “walking a fine line” with regard to the limits of a restaurant liquor license; The manager acknowledged it was a party atmosphere; The customers referred to Lotus as the best party in town; The owner stated a menu with appetizer-type food was available, but was not produced when requested.
Another strongly worded letter was sent to Lotus owner Amy Young on March 17, following up a February 8 letter, that contained the warning: “Please cease these activities immediately,” referring to advertised happy hours, dances and cover charges.
Young met with town representatives on March 29 and wrote a letter the next day that indicated she understood allegations against her.
“It was not my intention to only partially abate all the restaurant liquor license violations that were brought to my attention…but rather to fully abate all violations,” Young wrote in a letter to the town dated March 30. “Please have confidence that I fully understand the restaurant liquor license rules and regulations, and will not breach them again. Please consider allowing me to maintain my restaurant liquor license.”
Yet, town authorities noted a Facebook post advertising a party on April 8 at Lotus. The post was made March 30 and included the terminology: “a highly charged up-tempo funky electronic hiphop dance party ft. [DJ] Mikey Thunder.” The party was scheduled to run from 10 pm April 8 to 1:30 am April 9.
It was the last straw for town authorities, who placed a revocation of liquor license item on the agenda for the town’s regular meeting April 3.
Young stands to forfeit $2,500 recently spent on a restaurant liquor license renewal for 2017-18. The procedure moving forward should the council opt to begin revocation of Planet Palate’s restaurant liquor license would be a filing with the District Court. A district Court Judge would then rule on whether a gross violation had taken place.
