Rating:

0.0 (0 votes)

TUCSON - A popular Tucson watering hole has been denied a liquor license.

The Mint, a midtown mainstay for 50 years has new owners and the entertainment they plan to serve is raising some eyebrows.

Owners of the Mint want to serve alcohol and feature adult entertainers known as the Wildboys.

But families living behind the bar say they worry about the customers the bar could attract.

City Council members agree.

The Mint is known for cheap drinks and pool tables. The new owners Ricardo Skyy Garcia and Chris Smith bought the place in March.

In April, the Tucson Police Department filed a non-compliance recommendation for failure to disclose information on their application.

So the pair re-applied but Monday night, Tucson's City Council voted to recommend the state board deny the transfer of the license saying the nature of the bar's male stripping violates City ordinances due to the proximity of schools and neighborhoods.

Andrea Webb is happy about the City's decision, "I felt a sense of accomplishment. I think we as a neighborhood, the four surrounding neighborhoods really banded together to make this happen. We've made it very clear that we don't want this sort of thing in our neighborhood."

The bar's owner Ricardo Skyy Garcia says, "They keep bringing up how raunchy the show is, how raunchy the women are. And I keep having to say, I think it's a slap to the women of Tucson in their face, because we have business women who come in, mothers who come in, birthday parties, bachelorette parties, there's no where to go."

It's now up to the state liquor board if the new owners are deemed fit for a liquor license.

Neighbors plan to testify before the board in Phoneix, once a date is set.