City still has issues with Rowdy Beaver’s liquor license

Sept. 30, 20095:51 p.m.

WICHITA — Rod Minner Sr. may not think the city has any issues with the Rowdy Beaver’s liquor license, but that’s not what the city says.

“There’s a lot of issues here that we’ve got to work through,” says Tom Stolz, deputy chief of investigations for the Wichita Police Department.

“We have issues of hidden ownership. We have issues of changing . . . stories,” he says. “His license application here is in standby.”

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Rowdy Beaver shuts down, possibly for good

Sept. 30, 20099:01 a.m.

WICHITA — The Rowdy Beaver is closed, and it may not reopen.

“We have waited for a response on the liquor license,” says managing partner Rod Minner Sr.

“They are dragging their feet,” Minner says of state officials. “We can’t afford to run a day-to-day operation and lose money.”

Minner says it’s been more than a month since the Rowdy Beaver’s renewal application was submitted to the state.

Initially, Minner’s son, Rodney, said the restaurant and bar’s attorney didn’t file in time.

Then, a representative of the Wichita Police Department said there was a possible issue with something called hidden ownership, where the person whose name is on the liquor license is not the one operating the restaurant.

“We’ve been told . . . by the city of Wichita there’s absolutely nothing wrong,” the senior Minner says.

He says he’s heard “absolutely nothing” from the state, even after a message was left to say the business was at a critical point.

Minner says he has an attorney involved.

“Right now, we’re just waiting to see where it ends up.”

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Legislation may help bars and restaurants obtain temporary liquor licenses

Sept. 21, 20095:14 p.m.

WICHITA — Rowdy Beaver still doesn’t have its liquor license, and at least two other Wichita businesses have temporarily lost theirs because they didn’t renew in time.

Maggie’s Scotch & Soda and Soggy Bottom are closed until their licenses are renewed.

“It really kind of stinks because it’s going to put me under,” says Soggy Bottom owner Teresa Tribelhorn.

“If I’m not open this weekend, I’m probably locking the doors,” she says of her bar at 779 N. West St.

It may not be in time to help Tribelhorn, but there could be legislation coming that would help bar and restaurant owners who don’t renew in time.

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Police investigate Rowdy Beaver’s liquor license

Sept. 14, 20094:12 p.m.

WICHITA — Last week, Rowdy Beaver manager Rod Minner told Have You Heard? that the business was without its liquor license because an attorney didn’t refile for it in time.

But there’s more to the story.

“We have an investigation going,” says Tom Stolz, deputy chief of investigations for the Wichita Police Department.

“We got involved in this because we got calls from the community,” he says.

There were complaints about how the business (which is in the former Willie C’s Cafe & Bar space at 656 S. West St.) was being run.

Stolz says there are possible license discrepancies related to what’s called “hidden ownership.”

That’s when someone has a liquor license in his name but is not active in the business.

“They’re welcome to investigate as much as they want,” says Rod Minner Sr.

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There’s a new menu for this year’s Zoobilee

Sept. 9, 20095:59 p.m.

WICHITA — It’s a safe bet that no one who goes to Zoobilee on Saturday will leave hungry, but there are several popular restaurants that have been involved with the Sedgwick County Zoo fund-raiser that won’t be back this year.

“I just don’t feel the event is the same for the restaurants as it used to be,” says Darrin Hackney, general manager at Heroes.

Heroes has been a participant for the last 15 years.

Hackney says the event is a good one, but it changed from a cocktail party atmosphere to “just watching people grab food like they’ve never eaten before.”

“When you have food flying out that fast . . . are they really trying your food or is it just (to) curb the alcohol?”

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Rowdy Beaver accidentally lets liquor license lapse

Sept. 8, 20093:51 p.m.

WICHITA — Things are a little less rowdy at the Rowdy Beaver these days due to a lapsed liquor license.

The attorney for the bar and restaurant, which is at 656 S. West St., didn’t realize it takes as many as 30 days to renew the license.

The attorney didn’t start the renewal process until Aug. 12. The license expired Aug. 27.

Manager Rod Minner canceled bands over the weekend but expects to have the license and live acts back no later than Friday, though the license could come through before then.

Minner doesn’t expect to run into the same problem next year.

“I guarantee we’ve already handled that.”

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