Rock Island Liquor License Battle: Owner of The Gathering Denied Again by State Commission

Rock Island Liquor License Battle: Owner of The Gathering Denied Again by State Commission

Rock Island, Illinois – Kenneth Allen, the owner of The Gathering, has been in a two-year-long battle with the city of Rock Island over a liquor license. Despite repeated attempts, Allen has been denied a liquor license by the Rock Island Liquor Control Commission twice before. However, this time, the State of Illinois Liquor Control Commission overturned the city’s denial. The state ruling stated a lack of evidence to support the reasons for denial presented by the local commission.

Allen initially applied for a liquor license in June 2021 but was denied in September 2021 due to not meeting the liquor license requirements. The denial letter cited various reasons, including Allen’s failure to obtain all the necessary signatures, his business’s status not being in good standing, an expired lease with no evidence of an extension, and numerous code violations that needed to be addressed before approval.

Despite appealing the denial to the state liquor commission, the state upheld the city’s decision. However, in October 2022, Allen submitted another application for a liquor license. This time, the police department’s investigative report showed that The Gathering’s lease had been extended, the business was in good standing, with no delinquencies, and the building was up to code.

However, Allen still faced challenges with obtaining the necessary signatures and providing a required liability insurance certificate. During a public hearing, Allen argued that he obtained seven signatures from nearby property owners but was informed that only two were eligible. He stated that the list provided did not identify existing liquor license holders, which do not count towards eligible signatures.

The city council voted 4-2 to recommend waiving the signature requirement due to confusion, but Allen’s liquor license application was denied again in April 2023. This denial was appealed to the state liquor control commission, which subsequently reversed the decision due to a lack of evidence in the administrative record.

Mayor Mike Thoms stated that the city is reviewing its next steps and did not provide further comments at this time. The city has 20 days to file a petition for a rehearing of the state’s ruling.

In Illinois, the mayor presides over the local liquor commission, and applicants must meet various requirements, including obtaining nearby signatures, meeting health and safety codes, and having a clean criminal history. The application fee is $900, and if approved, a state alcohol retailer’s license must also be obtained.

The ongoing battle between Kenneth Allen and the city of Rock Island highlights the challenges faced by business owners in obtaining liquor licenses. The state liquor control commission’s decision to overturn the denial by the local commission raises questions about the validity of the reasons for denial and the need for a fair and transparent process for granting liquor licenses.