Design will fit most of existing layout and include a microbrewery
By Dave Fidlin
Correspondent
A new bar-restaurant will soon replace the shuttered Randy’s Restaurant and Fun Hunters Brewery, though the exact name of the establishment has yet to be revealed.
The city’s Plan and Architectural Review Commission on Dec. 30 voted to award a conditional-use permit to applicant James R. Burns for the new establishment. Action by commissioners was the last in a series of steps toward bringing the business to fruition.
Burns and the establishment’s owner, Randy Cruse, have not revealed a specific name for the bar-restaurant, which will be located at 841 E. Milwaukee St. In their application materials to the city, they went by their corporate name, JLB of Whitewater LLC.
“The name (for the bar-restaurant) has not yet been released,” said Chris Munz-Pritchard, the city’s planner and neighborhood services manager.
According to application materials submitted by JLB representatives, the new establishment will provide a variety of amenities. In addition to traditional bar and restaurant service, the operations plan includes a microbrewery and banquet facilities.
Burns said no significant changes are anticipated to the interior or exterior of the building. In his application materials, he pointed out a dining establishment or bar has operated out of the same site for at least 75 years.
According to JLB’s submitted plans, the new establishment will begin service at 10 a.m. daily.
As he came before commissioners Dec. 30, Burns emphasized there are no plans of serving alcohol the moment the doors open to customers.
“Will we serve alcohol right away in the morning? Absolutely not,” Burns said. “But I would like a little flexibility to keep that option open.”
The design for the new establishment retrofits most of the existing layout. The bar/lounge and microbrewery area will have the capacity of serving up to 37 people, while the traditional dining area has a 247-person limit.
The main banquet room area will be able to serve up to 325 persons, and a separate banquet area — an addition made to the building in 1999 — will have the capacity of serving up to 60 persons at a time.
Action by the Plan and Architectural Review Commission was the final step in the city’s review process.
Early in December, the city’s Alcohol Licensing Review Committee previously signed off on awarding Burns a Class B beer and liquor license. The Common Council consummated the request by giving its blessing.
In other business Dec. 30, the Plan and Architectural Review Commission:
• Appointed commissioner Sherry Stanek to sit on the city’s Urban Forestry Commission. The appointed body has a variety of representatives, including a member from the Plan and Architectural Review Commission;
• Discussed with Munz-Pritchard a timeline for taking action on potential changes derived out of the city’s recently completed parking study.
“We have some ordinances that will be shifting, and we’re going to try and clarify some issues,” Munz-Pritchard said. “I think it’s in our best interest to do this sooner, rather than later.”
Discussion concerning policy decisions derived out of the parking study is to begin this month.
