A closer look at liquor licenses in Racine

With all of the recent talk about liquor licenses in Racine, we took some time to research who has what kind of licenses in the city. Here are some early findings from our review:

Click here for a larger map showing the location of all 210 of Racine's liquor licenses.

The city has only nine liquor licenses left for bars and restaurants, and each of those licenses will cost business owners $10,000. The state sets a limit on how many "Class B" liquor licenses cities can give out, and Racine is one over its limit of 121 licenses. The city can issue 10 more "reserve" licenses, but each of those costs $10,000. The new owner of John's Dock, the former Sandpipers on Dodge St., had to buy one of the reserve licenses to open, according to City Clerk Janine Johnson Martin. (The city could reduce the number of "Class B" licenses in the city, but it can't increase the number.)

Not every new business will have to pay $10,000 for a new license. Every year businesses turn in their licenses, which then become available. For example, this year the bar "Cash Money's" closed and the owner turned in his liquor license, which was recycled to another owner. A non-reserve license costs between $700 and $800.

Incidentally, there is a "Class B" liquor license (i.e., a bar, restaurant, club, etc.) in Racine for every 658 residents.

The city now exceeds its own ordinance for the number of Class A licenses (used for liquor stores and grocery and convenience stores). There are 65 Class A licenses in the city, but the quota is 60. The council intentionally passed a lower quota in April to reduce the number of stores that sell alcohol in Racine.

Whoever came up with the names for alcohol licenses in Wisconsin did well to maximize confusion. The four main types of licenses include: Class "A," "Class A," Class "B," and "Class B." That's right, the quotes make a difference. Here's a breakdown of the licenses:

"Class A" liquor licenses allow retail sale of intoxicating liquor (including wine) for consumption off the premises. Examples: liquor stores or grocery stores with full liquor sales sections.

Class "A" fermented malt beverage licenses allow retail sale of fermented malt beverages (beer) for consumption off the premises. Examples: grocery or convenience stores.

"Class B" liquor licenses allow retail sale of intoxicating liquor (including wine) for consumption on the premises, and wine in original containers for consumption off the premises. If the community elects to, it may also permit sale of not more than four liters of intoxicating liquor (there are no limits on wine), in the original container, for consumption off the premises. Check local ordinances for the allowance. State law also allows carryout of a single, opened (resealed) bottle of wine if sold with a meal. Examples: taverns and restaurants with full alcohol service.

Class "B" fermented malt beverage licenses allow retail sale of fermented malt beverages (beer) for consumption on or off the premises. Examples: restaurants, "beer bars."

Video gambling

Another interesting aspect of liquor licenses is how they apply to video gambling machines. The state Legislature decriminalized owning up to five video gambling machines in establishments with "Class B" licenses by knocking down fines for possessing them (up to $2,500) and gutting enforcement of the state law (only 10 agents to patrol 13,000 businesses around the state). The move was, in part, a reaction to Native American gaming compacts that allowed tribes to run lucrative casinos in the state.

That said, it's still not legal for "Class B" license holders to have gambling machines. It's just highly unlikely they'll get caught. As for all other license holders, they face steeper fines and penalties for running video poker machines. However, those don't appear to be enforced either, because several Racine businesses without Class B licenses are now operating video poker machines.

State law does allow local governments to pass ordinances that would ban gambling and give authorities the power to seize machines. Racine has not passed such an ordinance.

Below is a list of all of the liquor license holders in Racine (click here to download an Excel spreadsheet with all of the establishments):

"Class A" Licenses (sell all alcohol to drink off premises) - 31

ALDI, 3110 DOUGLAS AVE
CHAMPION LIQUOR AND FOOD, 1629 DOUGLAS AVENUE
NAGRA PUMP & PANTRY, 1826 DOUGLAS AVENUE
X-PRESS FOOD MART, 2418 DOUGLAS AVENUE
PANTRY FOODS, 3711 DOUGLAS AVENUE
DURAND AVENUE MART, 3900 DURAND AVENUE
PIGGLY WIGGLY SUPERMARKET, 4011 DURAND AVENUE
PIGGLY WIGGLY, 3900 ERIE STREET
AKASH BP CORNER, 3945 ERIE STREET
PICK 'N SAVE, 2406 S GREEN BAY ROAD

ARBEE'S LIQUOR STORE, 2062 LATHROP AVENUE
DANDEE LIQUOR MART, 3700 MEACHEM ROAD
GEORGETOWN MARKET, 3710 MEACHEM ROAD
FAMILY SUPERMARKET, 1201 S MEMORIAL DRIVE
TIMER'S BEVERAGE CENTER, 3800 NORTHWESTERN AVENUE
RAPIDS PLAZA PICK 'N SAVE MEGA FOODS, 2210 RAPIDS DRIVE
V P XPRESS, 3015 RAPIDS DRIVE
SAM'S CLUB, 6200 REGENCY WEST DRIVE
DAN'S LIQUOR & VIDEO, 1856 TAYLOR AVENUE
COLONIAL LIQUOR, 2813 TAYLOR AVENUE

LIQUOR DEPOT, 1401 WASHINGTON AVENUE
PORT OF CALL LIQUORS, 918 WEST BOULEVARD
SAM'S LIQUOR, 965 MLK DRIVE
ONE STOP FOOD & LIQUOR, 1711 N MAIN STREET
OPEN PANTRY DBA ODDFELLOWS, 817 S MAIN STREET
MARKET, THE, 1949 RACINE STREET
TWINS' FOOD MART, 1812 SIXTEENTH STREET
AD UNITED PETROLEUM, 1917 SIXTEENTH STREET
WESTOWN FOODS, 3322 SIXTEENTH STREET
SUPER CARNICERIA LA MEXICANA, 1336 STATE STREET

SANTA FE LIQUOR & GROCERY STORE, 516 HIGH STREET


Class "A" Liquor Licenses (sell beer to drink off premises) - 34

MJ GAS & FOOD, 1720 DOUGLAS AVENUE
DOUGLAS PETRO, LLC, 3357 DOUGLAS AVENUE
FINE FARE FOODS, 1819 DURAND AVENUE
RAYTOWN PANTRY, 2731 DURAND AVENUE
PRIYA CORP. DBA CARRIAGE MOBIL, 3818 DURAND AVENUE
MIDTOWN MARKET, 1229 ELEVENTH STREET
SPEEDWAY, 2110 S GREEN BAY ROAD
HIGH STREET FOOD MART, 704 HIGH STREET
CHRISTIANO'S SUPERMARKET, 2054 KEARNEY AVENUE
LIEUNGH'S ON LATHROP, 1933 LATHROP AVENUE

MANGAT INC., 2100 N MAIN STREET
CITGO GAS & FOOD MART, 2240 NORTHWESTERN AVENUE
RAPIDS DRIVE CONVENIENCE LLC, 3502 RAPIDS DRIVE
NEIGHBORHOOD PANTRY, 1511 W SIXTH STREET
SPRING STREET STATION, 3441 SPRING STREET
SPRING STREET MOBILE, 3700 SPRING STREET
BP FOOD MART, 1975 STATE STREET
TAYLOR MART, 1813 TAYLOR AVENUE
PANTRY PLUS, 2056 TAYLOR AVENUE
MATRANGA'S SHOPRITE, 1200 VILLA STREET

MAGIC DOLLAR SUPER MARKET LLC, 1007 WASHINGTON AVE
JASON & PARDEEP, INC., 5302 WASHINGTON AVE
TOTAL 24, 930 WASHINGTON AVENUE
LEE'S DELI, 2615 WASHINGTON AVENUE
SPEEDWAY, 4620 WASHINGTON AVENUE
QUEENSWAY FOOD MART & LAUNDROMAT/JD PETROLEUM, 1530 DOUGLAS AVENUE
QUICK STOP FOODS, 1600 MLK DRIVE
SF FOOD MART, 1347 LATHROP AVENUE
LA TAPATIA, 1951 MEAD STREET
SUPER MERCADO GRAN MORELOS, 1105 N MEMORIAL DRIVE

M. J. PETROLEUM, 1100 SIXTH STREET
LINCOLN SUPERMARKET, 1775 STATE STREET
SUNSHINE SUPERMARKET, 1559 TAYLOR AVENUE
U.S. PANTRY, 1627 WASHINGTON AVENUE

"Class B" Liquor Licenses (full bar service) - 121*

DEMARK'S TAVERN, 1600 ALBERT STREET
DEROSE BAR & RESTAURANT, LLC, 1444 BLAKE AVENUE
CASTLE LANES, 5615 CASTLE COURT
SPINNAKER'S, 2 CHRISTOPHER COLUMBUS CAUSEWAY
SHOGUN JAPANESE RESTAURANT, 518 COLLEGE AVENUE
TOMMY'S, 1921 DEKOVEN AVENUE
CHARTROOM "CHARLIE'S", 209 DODGE STREET
PAPA GUS, 2100 DOUGLAS AvE.
DOUBLE D'S II, 1307 DOUGLAS AVE.
STIL COUNTRY, 1100 DOUGLAS AVENUE

AMERICAN LEGION POST, 1234 DOUGLAS AVENUE
MI JACALITO RESTAURANT, 1318 DOUGLAS AVENUE
CHIEF'S, 1641 DOUGLAS AVENUE
OUTBREAK BILLIARDS, 1717 DOUGLAS AVENUE
BRUCE'S, 2328 DOUGLAS AVENUE
PEG & LOU'S, 3113 DOUGLAS AVENUE
BALDO'S MEXICAN RESTAURANT, 3408 DOUGLAS AVENUE
DERANGO'S PIZZA PALACE, 3840 DOUGLAS AVENUE
THE DRINK, 961 MLK DRIVE
TROPICAL PARADISE, 2815 DURAND AVENUE

JAVIER'S RESTAURANT INC., 3701 DURAND AVENUE
BUONA VITA PIZZERIA RESTAURANT, 3701 DURAND AVENUE
PLAZA BOWLING CENTER, 3701 DURAND AVENUE
VINTAGE ROCK CAFÉ, 3701 DURAND AVENUE
LONE STAR STEAKHOUSE & SALOON, 5880 DURAND AVENUE
OLIVE GARDEN, 6000 DURAND AVENUE
YARDARM, 920 ERIE STREET
NEIGHBORHOOD BAR OF RACINE, LLC, 2002 ERIE STREET
CHANCERY, 207 GASLIGHT CIRCLE
HANSEN'S TAP, 501 GOOLD STREET

APPLEBEE'S NEIGHBORHOOD GRILL AND BAR, 2521 S GREEN BAY ROAD
EAGLES CLUB, 319 HAMILTON STREET
TEEZERS, 1936 LATHROP AVENUE
BUCKET'S PUB, 2031 LATHROP AVENUE
JOEY'S ON LATHROP, 2054 LATHROP AVENUE
DANNY PALMS, 2322 LATHROP AVENUE
DYNASTY RESTAURANT, 2427 LATHROP AVENUE
RACINE LABOR CENTER, 2100 LAYARD AVENUE
CASABLANCA de MEXICO, 230 MAIN STREET
THE IVANHOE PUB & EATERY, 231 MAIN STREET

RICKY'S PLACE, 236 MAIN STREET
UNCORKT, 240 MAIN STREET
SALUTE ITALIAN RESTAURANT, 314 MAIN STREET
ENVI, 316 MAIN STREET
RACINE ART MUSEUM, 441 MAIN STREET
THE RED ONION CAFÉ, 555 MAIN STREET
VET'S CLUB, 820 MAIN STREET
HIRAM'S PLACE, 1012 MAIN STREET
COASTERS, 1301 N MAIN STREET
STICKY RICE, LLC, 337 S MAIN STREET

MICHIGAN'S PUB, 1300 MICHIGAN BLVD
RACINE THEATRE GUILD, 2519 NORTHWESTERN AVENUE
DAYS INN RIVERSIDE, 3700 NORTHWESTERN AVENUE
STONE CORRAL, 3012 RAPIDS DRIVE
INFUSINO'S ITALIAN VILLAGE, 3201 RAPIDS DRIVE
INFUSINO'S RESTAURANT, 3225 RAPIDS DRIVE
INFUSINO'S ALL SPORTS, LLC, 3458 RAPIDS DRIVE
HI-O HEADQUARTERS, 1816 SEVENTEENTH STREET
EL COTORREO, 1224 SIXTEENTH STREET
OLDE MADRID LLC, 418 SIXTH ST.

EVENTS ON THE SQUARE, 211 SIXTH STREET
MCAULIFFE'S ON THE SQUARE, 213 SIXTH STREET
THE BLUE ROCK LOUNGE & EATERY, 306 SIXTH STREET
ASIANA RESTAURANT, 423 SIXTH STREET
PARK 6, 500 SIXTH STREET
HENRY & WANDA'S, 501 SIXTH STREET
TIMOTHY YORK'S BISTRO, 600 SIXTH STREET
JOEY'S ON 6TH, 910 SIXTH STREET
OUT OF THE PAN, 550 STATE STREET
HARBOR LITE YACHT CLUB, 559 STATE STREET

TBG'S, 1814 TAYLOR AVE.
BLIND ALLIGATOR, THE, 1653 TAYLOR AVENUE
JOEY'S ON TAYLOR, 1863 TAYLOR AVENUE
HAMMES TAVERN, 2005 TAYLOR AVENUE
HILLSIDE LANES, 1400 THIRTEENTH STREET
SALT & PEPPER LOUNGE, 1111 WASHINGTON AVENUE
THE WARNING TRACK, LLC, 1301 WASHINGTON AVENUE
MR. KOOL'S SPORTS BAR, 1330 WASHINGTON AVENUE
CORNER HOUSE, 1521 WASHINGTON AVENUE
BOILER ROOM, THE, 5200 WASHINGTON AVENUE

PUB ON WISCONSIN, 525 WISCONSIN AVENUE
REDLINE TAVERN, 1200 N WISCONSIN STREET
ROGER'S, 1843 N WISCONSIN STREET
ROJO'S PUB, 1317 YOUT STREET
RUSS'S TAP, 2203 DEKOVEN AVENUE
RUDY'S, 2515 DOUGLAS AVENUE
MAX, THE, 3101 DOUGLAS AVENUE
BUCKS LOUNGE, 963 MLK DRIVE
WAVES GRILL & PUB, 107 FOURTH STREET
RADISSON INN HARBOURWALK, 223 GASLIGHT CIRCLE

CORNERSTONE, THE, 600 HIGH STREET
THE TROPICAL, 1510 JUNCTION AVE.
THE BRASS MONKEY, 1436 JUNCTION AVENUE
ENGLISH ROOM, 2416 LATHROP AVENUE
EVELYN'S CLUB MAIN, 331 MAIN STREET
GEORGE'S TAVERN, 1201 N MAIN STREET
THE RHINO BAR, 1659 N MAIN STREET
MCAULIFFE'S PUB, 3700 MEACHEM ROAD
BLUES & R/B, 1102 MOUND AVENUE
RIVER RUN RESTAURANT, 3616 NORTHWESTERN AVENUE

CACKLE JACKS', 3620 NORTHWESTERN AVENUE
THE OLD SCHOOL WAY, 1300 SIXTEENTH STREET
DINO'S, 1816 SIXTEENTH STREET
2ND TIME AROUND, 1922 SIXTEENTH STREET
DEE DEE'S DANIA, 1019 STATE STREET
CLIFF'S LOUNGE, 1348 STATE STREET
WINNER'S CIRCLE, 1403 SUPERIOR STREET
PIAS PIZZERIA, 1756 TAYLOR AVENUE
CITY HAUL LOUNGE, 835 WASHINGTON AVENUE
THE CLUB, 1244 WASHINGTON AVENUE

ANDY'S NOW YER TALKIN', 1415 WASHINGTON AVENUE
TRADEWINDS, 1518 WASHINGTON AVENUE
SHILLINGS PUB, 611 WISCONSIN AVENUE
KENNY'S ON MAIN, 1300 N MAIN STREET
TAQUERIA ARANDAS RESTAURANT, 1501 PROSPECT STREET
TANGO BAR, 509 SIXTH STREET
RACINE YACHT CLUB, 1 BARKER STREET
FIFTH STREET YACHT CLUB, 761 MARQUETTE STREET
RACINE COUNTRY CLUB, 2801 NORTHWESTERN AVENUE
SOMERSET CLUB, 201 SIXTH STREET

GERMAN MEN'S CLUB, 701 VILLA STREET

* The owners of John's Dock recently had a "reserve" license approved, but the license is not reflected in the list provided by the City Clerk's office.

Class "B" Liquor Licenses (only sell beer) - 18

CHUCK E. CHEESE'S, 5612 DURAND AVENUE
ST. JOHN NEPOMUK CHURCH, 1923 GREEN STREET
TACOS EL REY, 2207 LATHROP AVENUE
HORLICK CONCESSIONS, 1648 N MEMORIAL DRIVE
SAUSAGE KITCHEN, 1706 RAPIDS DRIVE
WASHINGTON PARK GOLF COURSE, 2801 TWELFTH STREET
PIZZA HUT, 5000 WASHINGTON AVENUE
MI LINDO JALISCO, 1221 DOUGLAS AVENUE
J & D ENTERPRISES, 3 FIFTH STREET
CLIFF'S BOATHOUSE CAFE, 301 HAMILTON STREET

NORTH BEACH OASIS, 100 KEWAUNEE STREET
DE PIZZA CHEF, 235 MAIN STREET
NUEVO VALLARTA, 3700 DURAND AVENUE
JALISCO & MICHOACAN, 1950 RACINE STREET
FESTIVAL HALL, 5 FIFTH STREET
RACINE ZOO, 2131 N MAIN STREET
JOHNSON PARK CLUBHOUSE, 6200 NORTHWESTERN AVENUE
MEMORIAL HALL, 72 SEVENTH STREET