photo by: Marit Ehmke

Interior of John Brown's Underground, 7 E. Seventh St.

Downtown Lawrence bar and eatery John Brown’s Underground is at risk of losing what makes the speakeasy-style venue tick: its ability to sell alcohol.

When applying to renew its drinking establishment license last month, the city found John Brown’s Underground had not been selling enough food to meet city requirements. The city denied its license July 1.

Lawrence law requires 55 percent of sales to come from food in order for a venue to hold a license. The law was implemented in 1993, and at the time, existing Lawrence bars and restaurants were “grandfathered” in and not required to meet the sales rule.

A memo from City Clerk Sherri Riedemann says owners of John Brown’s Underground are taking steps to increase their food sales. Riedemann is recommending the Lawrence City Commission grant a temporary six-month license, putting the venue on a “probation.”

The City Commission will discuss at its Tuesday meeting whether to grant the license. Commissioners meet at 5:45 p.m. at City Hall, 6 E. Sixth St.

“JBU is interested in maintaining operations and contributing to the vibrant atmosphere in downtown Lawrence,” said the venue’s attorney, Dan Watkins, in a letter to the city Thursday. “Since JBU was opened in late August of 2014, the management has made significant and continuous efforts to meet the city’s food sales requirements.”

Watkins’ letter states when the bar and restaurant opened, “it became clear relatively quickly that food sales lagged behind liquor sales.”

Since then, the owners have been changing up their menu and expanding services to try to boost food sales.

In March, the Journal-World reported John Brown’s Underground was building its brunch menu and serving in a large space above the bar, which is tucked into a basement at 7 E. Seventh St.

The bar and restaurant has recently filed an application with City Hall for a large, $40,000 expansion of the second-floor kitchen, Watkins’ letter states. Owners are hiring more kitchen and wait staff, extending hours of operation to include full-service lunch and organizing special events.

Those changes are expected to be complete by the end of August.

If a temporary license is granted Tuesday, the city will decide after six months whether to terminate the license, extend the probationary period or issue a regular drinking establishment license.