Minocqua Brewing Company. Image courtesy: WAOW TV
MINOCQUA, WI (WSAU-WAOW) – The Minocqua Brewing Company has lost its operating permit with Oneida County and has been ordered to close.
But owner Kirk Bangstad insists he will continue to do business regardless of permit status. “Until they put padlocks on my business, I am open for business until someone puts a padlock on my business,” he told WAOW TV. “What they have done is wrong and we will sue in federal court eventually.”
His permit was under scrutiny after Oneida County Supervisors said he violated his permit multiple times, which Bangstad admitted to. “The issues they revoked my permit on are simply serving beer on a concrete stoop and not having a covered dumpster,” said Bangstad.
His ARP only allows him to do business indoors, not outdoors. “You have been ordered to bring the administrative review permit into accordance, including ceasing serving alcohol to customers outside,” said Scott Holewinski, with the Planning and Development Committee.
However, Bangstad claimed the violations weren’t enough to warrant shutting him down. “I don’t think they realize what revoking a thriving business permit to do business will look like throughout the entire state of Wisconsin and the nation,” said Bangstad. He claims his business was targeted unfairly because he’s a liberal activist in a conservative community.
Others disagreed and said the myriad of violations were too much for the business.
Another issue is Bangstad’s permit requirements, including a minimum of six parking spaces. The original land that Bangstad purchased had no parking. But adding those spaces would take away from his goal of a beer garden, and after multiple attempts, he’s finally awaiting news of a Conditional Use Permit (CUP) application in order to start his project. The vote to approve or deny the CUP was delayed to Wednesday, August 9th.
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