Bud Garthe wants to open Wright County’s first smoke-free bar and restaurant here in Annandale. But owners and proprietors of four other city establishments say another place to drink and dine in the area would be one too many. The Annandale Planning Commission recommended after a public hearing last week that the city council grant a conditional use permit for on-sale liquor at Garthe’s place. The board ruled against the objections of a delegation representing JJ’s Bar, Tootsie’s Bar and Grill, the Fore Seasons Restaurant and Heart of the Lakes Bowling Center. The issue will be on the council’s agenda for a decision Monday night, Feb. 5. Garthe proposes to open the Instant Replay Sports Bar and Restaurant in New Town Market, the commercial development owned by David Ferrell east of the Marketplace. "It’s the first smoke-free bar in Wright County," Garthe told the planning commission Tuesday, Jan. 23, according to information from Sheriff Gary Miller. "It’s a good plus for the community." "Some people just can’t stand smoke," he said. "It’s going to come anyway." It would feature fine dining, a Chinese buffet at lunchtime and no live music, he said. Garthe estimated about 65 percent of business would be food and 35 percent bar. The 3,500 square feet of space would seat about 80 people, he said, and be open until 10 p.m. on weekdays and no later than 1 a.m. on weekends. Scott Kurr, who owns JJ’s with his brother Ryan, said if the city allows more liquor licenses "you’re going to hurt one of these businesses so intensely that you’re going to close their doors." "It’s getting tougher and tougher with all the laws," he said. "We’re all concerned." Struggling JJ’s has been struggling financially to the point his mother, the former owner, has been helping keep it afloat. "Call Dubby Ferrell," Kurr said. "I’ll offer to sell him my bar." "We’re asking the city to protect us," Ryan Kurr added. Dale Miller of Tootsie’s told the board there are 15 bars within six miles of Annandale. "I think this town’s trying to grow like a Monticello and we’re not a Monticello yet," he said. "There’s just not enough money to go around, I think, for another bar. "It’s definitely going to hurt somebody." Holly Peterson, general manager of the Southbrook Golf Club and its Fore Seasons Restaurant, said Annandale isn’t big enough. "We can barely survive with the population that’s out here," she said. "I just don’t know that this town can support another bar and restaurant." Carrie Engle, Ryan Kurr’s girlfriend, said Annandale already has fine dining and she doesn’t agree with allowing another restaurant because it claims the city doesn’t have any. Garthe replied that because it would be the first smoke-free restaurant-bar, he’ll draw business from Buffalo and Maple Lake, and people who want to smoke will go to Tootsie’s and JJ’s and elsewhere. Ellis’s Steak House on Highway 55 in the 1990s brought people into Annandale, he said. "It drew business into town - not just there but downtown." Iona Rozenberg of the Hunters Path neighborhood north of New Town Market wrote a letter objecting to having an on-sale liquor establishment so close to her home. She feared it would be open until 2 a.m. and cause more noise, traffic and lights, and that impaired drivers might endanger the neighborhood. The only way it wouldn’t cause a detriment to her living environment, she said, is if the restaurant closed by 10 p.m. and no parking was allowed at the back of it. "I also believe that a town the size of Annandale already has enough liquor establishments." Planning commission chairman Dwight "Dewey" Gunnarson said its job is to see if the use fits within the area where it’s proposed. "We can discuss the emotional side of it but I don’t think it’s the city’s responsibility to limit business one way or another, but that’s just my opinion." Commission member Dave Ding added the board’s responsibility is to look at the issue from a planning and zoning aspect. "It’s got nothing to do with the impact on anything. That’s a council thing." The four members agreed the bar-restaurant fit the location it’s being proposed for and voted unanimously to recommend the council approve the permit. Gunnarson suggested the opponents appear at the council meeting as well. When Miller complained that he had wasted his time coming to the planning hearing, city administrator Mark Casey said the opponents’ comments were on the record. If they ask to speak at the council meeting, the mayor will recognize them, he said. Casey told commission members that the council would look pretty strongly at their recommendation. Asked later whether the council can decide the issue on other than strict planning grounds, Casey said, "They’re going to make the decision based on logic and sound reason, and their decision can’t be arbitrary or capricious."
