13 replies to this topic

[Steve Heard]

Dear Folsom Community,

As some of you might already know, we have been facing major roadblocks to acquiring our Liquor License. The previous licensee at the Sports Garage is affecting our ability to complete the Liquor License transfer process. We are facing problems that were unforeseen as his violations to the Liquor License were not disclosed to us at the time of purchase.

There will be a court hearing scheduled in the near future that will hopefully resolve the transfer process. However there is a possibility we may have to serve a suspension of the Liquor License for 15 days after the hearing even though we are not responsible for any of the past violations. We have contacted multiple authorities from Alcoholic Beverage Control Department, to local Congress people and to leadership of the City of Folsom. None of these authority figures can overturn the due process that the previous licensee has to face. We had no way of knowing that our new business would be held liable for someone elses indiscretions. As a result, the previous owners mistakes have now become our burden to bear.

In an effort to retain our valued employees, we have been forced to open The Folsom Tap House without the ability to serve alcohol. As small business owners, we are not just responsible for taking care of our own family; we have the honor and the accountability, for the employment of fifteen very talented and hard-working people.

We are asking for your local support to keep our doors open. Our food is excellent and our beer list is amazing (we hope you can taste it very soon). Please come in with the kids and enjoy some great food. All non-alcoholic beverages are complimentary with any food purchase until our legal battle to obtain a License in resolved.

Thank you for your support!
Jeff and Gail Back

This story is going to be on News10 tonight, too.

[Rich_T]

Best wishes.  Even though you are a "tap house", there are a lot of people who don't need alcohol to enjoy dinner in a nice pub-like environment.

 

And who knows, maybe the anticipation of when you DO start pouring beer will work out for you as publicity.

[Deb aka Resume Lady]

Wow. I had no idea a new business could be negatively impacted by the actions/practices of previous businesses. I'm trying to figure out the logic of this -- and am coming up short!

 

I wish Folsom Tap House the best!

[SacKen]

Get some microbrew root beer to tap in the meantime.  I'd love for a place in town to have some unique root beer to try while waiting for the real stuff. That would give a few of us at work a good reason to head over for lunch.

[mrdavex]

Wow. I had no idea a new business could be negatively impacted by the actions/practices of previous businesses. I'm trying to figure out the logic of this -- and am coming up short!

 

I wish Folsom Tap House the best!

 

I think it's because this is a Liquor License transfer: http://www.abc.ca.go...asp?ID=75639300

According to the ABC record, the license was previously held by the Sports Garage owners, who had originally gotten it transferred to them from some restaurant in Isleton.  I suspect that the license was included in the sale of the Sports Garage, and just like the sale of any other property or business, the new owner would inherit any debts or leans that were still unresolved at the time of sale. 

[Deb aka Resume Lady]

 

I think it's because this is a Liquor License transfer: http://www.abc.ca.go...asp?ID=75639300

According to the ABC record, the license was previously held by the Sports Garage owners, who had originally gotten it transferred to them from some restaurant in Isleton.  I suspect that the license was included in the sale of the Sports Garage, and just like the sale of any other property or business, the new owner would inherit any debts or leans that were still unresolved at the time of sale. 

 

Thanks for the explanation. I didn't know liquor licenses could be transferred that way. I assumed each business had to apply for one.

[nomad]

This is called poor research.

[Steve Heard]

News10 to the rescue!

 

FOLSOM, CA - The owners of a new restaurant called the Folsom Tap House have been forced to pour nothing stronger than soda because of a fatal crash that happened months before they opened their doors.

"It's really difficult to run a tap house without any taps," said Gail Back, who opened the restaurant with her husband, Jeff, at the beginning of April.

The Backs paid $20,000 to buy the liquor license and settle a tax lien from the bankrupt owner of a failed sports bar that occupied the space until last year.

The couple said a representative of the state Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control assured them in February the transfer would go smoothly.

"ABC said about seven to 10 business days we'll get that license issued and you should have no problem," Jeff Back said.

The Backs later learned the transfer was being held up because of a fatal car crash last year involving a minor who had allegedly been served by the previous licensee.

"We really feel it's unfair to us that our new business should have to suffer for violations that happened with a previous owner," Gail said.

The Backs chose to open anyway with limited hours and free fountain drinks so they wouldn't lose the 15 people they'd hired in recent weeks.

They posted a sign on the door explaining the Folsom Tap House was temporarily alcohol-free and watched potential patrons turn around and leave.

"It's hard to make it just selling food," Gail said. "We have no idea when we're going to get our license and we really have no idea if we're going to be to make this business work."

One day after an inquiry from News10, the Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control issued a statement saying it would clear the way for the Backs to get their liquor license.

ABC recently filed an administrative action against the license of the Folsom Sports Garage for furnishing alcohol to a minor, who later died in a car crash. However, ABC understands that the Folsom Sports Garage is no longer in business and a new business has applied for the license. ABC is taking the appropriate steps to ensure there is no unnecessary delay in transferring the license to the new business owner. ABC has also forwarded the matter to the district attorney's office for review of any criminal charges.

ABC spokesman John Carr said the license would likely be issued next week.

[Deb aka Resume Lady]

Excellent!

[The Average Joe]

I'm so glad this appears to have been resolved! 

 

<Rant> Funny how nothing got done until the situation was exposed to the masses.  Big bureaucracy loves it's rules, regulations, and processes and loves to give low level staff zero power to address issues with logic or compassion. That is just another reason why you don't want a big government.

 

You shouldn't have to get congresspeople and the news media involved to get some clerk to do the obviously right thing. How many times have you had some (generally) nameless person at (name your agency) totally screw up your status with that particular agency? How much time, energy and frustration did it take to resolve? Bounced from one person to the next only to be told the original person should handle your issue...

[Darth Lefty]

We had someone make a thread here a year or so ago making these allegations and everyone told her to shuttup and stop slandering, she got in a fight with Supermom and deleted most of her posts.

[Steve Heard]

We had someone make a thread here a year or so ago making these allegations and everyone told her to shuttup and stop slandering, she got in a fight with Supermom and deleted most of her posts.

I seem to remember something like that.

[caligirlz]

We had someone make a thread here a year or so ago making these allegations and everyone told her to shuttup and stop slandering, she got in a fight with Supermom and deleted most of her posts.

Yes, but I believe that person was mentioning names, and all they wanted to do was complain, here. As if the goal was for the forum members to turn the info over to the authorities. 

[Deb aka Resume Lady]

My husband and I went for dinner and the food and service were very good. There were a fair number of other people in while we were there.