Brookings Banter

Last Tuesday's Council Meeting surprised me.  I thought we were going to able to have two new establishment serve alcohol in Brookings with temporary licenses.  Now that Shamrock has requested that they permanently be award the un-restricted license I have to make the decision who should get the license.  I was split between which business deserved the license and was excited when we found a way for both to get temporary licenses until SB 126 licenses are available.  Both the Shamrock and Bravo's bring needed entertainment options to Brookings.  It can be argued forever without a clear winner who will have the most impact on Brookings .  Future sales revenues are estimated and impact to Brookings is more than sales tax revenue.  Only one point puts Bravo's ahead of Shamrock in my mind and that is people have been asking for an up-scale restaurant for years and Bravo's has fulfilled that need.  Shamrock is not a full time up-scale restaurant .  Bravo's has also agreed to relinquish the un-restricted license for a new SB 126 restaurant only license.  Although the Council still needs to find out what the cost of that license will be so Bravo's knows the total cost before entering into the temporary agreement.

If the question comes down to which one, I will vote for Bravo's.