KANSAS CITY, Mo. — The city is taking a second look at the rules regarding liquor licenses for businesses in the Jazz District.
For the past year, Smaxx down the corner from 18th and Vine has served burgers and a bit of 18th and Vine history.
Owner Brandon Dixon also planned to open a daiquiri bar next door, but those plans are on hold after learning he couldn’t due to the number of churches in the area.
“Once you tell me that there’s no liquor, well, you take away half of the atmosphere. This is a nightlife atmosphere around here. It’s the Jazz District, it’s the Vine District,” Dixon said.
Currently restaurants and bars in Kansas City, Missouri can’t serve liquor within 300 feet of a school or church.
“You know, a church, even though they may not, whether it be the managing authority, may not have a real issue with a particular liquor license business going near them, they can’t sign off on that because it goes against everything they’re saying, to say that we have no issues with liquor located next to us. And so that presents a problem sometimes,” Jim Ready, KCMO Regulated Industries manager, said.
But on Monday the city’s alcoholic beverage advisory group recommended lifting the ban within the Jazz District.
“It doesn’t mean that anybody's getting fast-tracked or guaranteed a liquor license. It doesn't. It just means those particular things that can kill the process immediately have been waived,” Ready said.
The recommendation comes as the city has pumped more than $25 million to bring in more businesses to the area.
“It’s lacking economic growth around here, and that’s one of the reasons, that’s one of the things that’s holding us back,” Dixon said.
Dixon believes lifting the restriction will give his daiquiri bar a fighting chance.
“We want to give Kansas City a good time and another option,” he said.
The board’s recommendation would have to make its way through City Hall and get the City Council's approval to become law.
