Three businesses get City of Casper OK on new, transferred liquor licenses
CASPER, Wyo. — Three local businesses — Poplar Wines & Spirits, Gruner Brothers Brewing and Studio City Stadium 10 Cinemas — have received either new or transferred liquor licenses from the City of Casper.
At their May 16 regular meeting, Casper City Council members approved all three applications.
Tin Shack, operating as Poplar Wines & Spirits at 1016 Poplar, asked the city to transfer ownership of its retail liquor license to allow new owners to continue operating the liquor store and winery.
Kyle Ridgeway and Mike Kretzer signed the application as owners.
Previous owners Mike and Dave Reid intend to stay on for a time to help with the transition. The new owners plan to add 50–75 gaming machines in an area now used for storage. There is a $100 transfer fee.
During public comment at the council meeting, Ridgeway, vice president of 307 Horse Racing, said the Poplar Wines & Spirits gaming project will take a while.
“It will be a construction project for us,” he said.
While offering support for businesses to operate as they see fit, Councilor Ray Pacheco expressed “some concern” about the additional gaming machines.
“We need to remain cautious as a community as we start to see expansion of gaming systems here,” he said. “We need to be a bit mindful as these [gaming machines] continue to grow in private business.”
Gruner Brothers Brewing, 1301 Wilkins Circle, wanted a new liquor license to produce cider. This requires a winery permit, according to a city staff memo. The business is also asking to sell other wines in its tasting room.
There is already a microbrew license at the address and it will continue to operate, according to the staff memo. State law has allowed for multiple license or permit holders to operate in the same licensed building as long as each licensee maintains a distinct area within the building.
Brothers Ben and Daron Gruner signed the application as president and vice president of the business partnership.
City Manager Carter Napier said the “unique application” with a winery license co-located with a brewery license is consistent with state statute and is allowed.
Speaking at the May 16 public hearing, Sonya Gruner said that while cider is classified as a wine, Gruner Brothers Brewing is not going to operate as a typical winery where bottles of wine are produced.
The city will receive $426 for the license.
Movie Palace applied for a new restaurant liquor license for Studio City Stadium 10 Cinemas at 5020 E. 2nd St.
According to a city staff memo, in 2021 Wyoming changed its liquor laws to require restaurant liquor license holders to have a dispensing area rather than a dispensing room. The area will be restricted to people 18 and older. Consumption in the area is not allowed.
Meals must now be prepared and served for on-premises consumption. Previously, the service of “only fry orders” or sandwiches and hamburgers did not qualify an establishment as a restaurant, the memo states. Movie Palace has plans to serve chicken sandwiches, french fries, hot dogs, pizza and appetizers.
The application is signed by Rand Pryde as president and Craig Hosey as vice-president/secretary of the company.
Napier said the request is consistent with statute, and the liquor license is not unlike those already issued to similar theaters on the west side of Casper.
The City of Casper will receive a prorated license fee of $1,286.
See liquor license application details here: