Owners of the Brown Bear Brewing Co. will be back before the Lawrence City Commission, this time hoping to keep their permit for sidewalk dining.
Commissioners will hold a public hearing Tuesday night as part of their regular business meeting to determine if the Brown Bear's sidewalk dining permit should be revoked.
Under city codes, food service establishments in the downtown business district must do at least 55 percent of their business in food to qualify for a city license sell alcohol.
But that threshold rises to 70 percent in food sales if the establishment wants to have sidewalk dining.
Last month, city officials refused to renew the Brown Bear's drinking establishment license after the owners admitted they had not met the 55-percent food requirement.
After being denied leniency on their first appeal, commissioners agreed last week to give the Brown Bear, 729 Mass., a second chance on its liquor license, based on a business plan the owners submitted showing how they intended to increase their volume of food sales.
The issue of the sidewalk dining permit is another matter, however, and it's one over which city officials have total discretion, said David Corliss, director of legal services for the city.
-- Peter Hancock's phone message number is 832-7144. His e-mail address is phancock@ljworld.com.
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