HomeMy WebLinkAbout12-19-16, Public Comment,Morice,Tap RoomBozeman Taproom
Julien Morice 2110 Sourdough Rd. Bozeman, MT 59715
My company, Ironwood Development, began renting 321 East Mendenhall in the Old Service
Electric Building back in 2013. After renting my office for about a year, My wife and I decide to
purchase the property. We had always loved the old building and were excited to revitalize what
had become a decrepit old structure in downtown Bozeman.
Having two children of our own at Longfellow elementary school, one of whom may actually end
up going to Hawthorne next year, my wife and I were concerned about what type of business we
wanted across from an elementary school. During my occupancy at 321 East Mendenhall, it
was always challenging to keep the beer bottles, cigarette butts, and broken glass off of the
sidewalk. The flower planters and windows outside our office, and the windows of a neighboring
tenant, Lokken Printing, were broken on more than one occasion. Our building was consistently
subject to vandalism from late night partiers exiting downtown. It quickly became apparent that
this location was more suited to a business that would be open or at least occupied late at night.
The concept for the Bozeman Taproom and Fill Station was first presented to us in early 2015
by Eric Cade. My wife and I tried to weigh all the pros and cons of having a business like the
Taproom across from Hawthorne. On the surface it didn't make sense to have a bar near an
elementary school. But in the few years I'd occupied the building, I'd rarely seen children
playing on the west lawn of Hawthorn; most of the activity was concentrated to the east side of
the property. Leasing to the Taproom would not only dramatically improve the building, but the
project would improve the overall aesthetics, security, lighting and maintenance of this
intersection. The Taproom's business model was environmentally conscious by serving all
beverages in glasses, which would reduce litter and prevent beer bottles or plastic cups from
making it over to Hawthorne and adjacent properties. Having an establishment similar to Ale
Works on the west side of Hawthorne didn't seem to me like it would be a detriment to the
school. After all, I'd never heard of a parent refusing to spend time in the Bozeman Public
Library because their child could easily look through the window and see someone drinking a
beer at Ale Works across the street. The Taproom would not attract heavy day drinkers looking
for a cheap watering hole, not because of the type of liquor license it held, but because of the
type of establishment the Taproom was designed to be. Patrons of this type of restaurant and
bar rarely drink heavily during the hours and months the school is open. Before leasing the
property to the Taproom, I asked Eric if he would be installing gaming machines as permitted
under the Taprooms current liquor license. His answer helped ease my concerns and helped my
wife and I reach our final decision. Eric said that "gambling attracts a different type of clientele"
and that "the Taproom wasn't ever going to be that type of establishment". Ironically enough,
the full liquor license the Taproom is requesting does not permit gaming.
During the approval process in 2015 there was very little public comment or concern. The only
comment, a letter from Hawthorn School, did not object to the Taproom as built, it only asked we
abided by state law, which we did. It was only until recently the owners of the Taproom have had
to endure false statements and misinformation recently written by Gail Shontzler in the
Bozeman Daily Chronicle. Although this article has been revised since its initial publication, the
initial inaccurate explanations and interpretations of events have fueled negative public protest
and comment. The article accused the Taproom and its ownership of "changing their address to
circumvent the law." This statement is absolutely false; the main entrance to the Taproom and
past businesses using that entrance have always used the same address, 321 East
Mendenhall. The article also states that in 2015 the letter from Superintendent Rob Watson
"pointed out the conflict with the 600-foot rule in state law." This misleading statement implies
the Taproom was at some point or is currently operating in conflict with the "600-foot rule in state
law", which it is not. The same article selects quotes from a letter written by the School Board
that reference a city ordinance that simply does not apply to the liquor license or the business
location of the Taproom. In 2015 the Taproom project was fully vetted through our attorneys and
the State of Montana. It was deemed to be legally compliant with all city and state law and the
intent of that law as confirmed by the Montana State Supreme Court. Anything that suggests
otherwise is completely inaccurate. I would however like to thank Eric Dietrich of the Chronicle
for writing a more recent, unbiased account of the events and facts associated with the
Taproom. Although I disagree with some of the public opinions voiced in this article, Eric
Dietrich truthfully and accurately summarized both sides of this issue.
The Taproom has never had a single disturbance, violation, complaint or police visit for any
reason. Our family and the ownership group of the Taproom have all heavily invested into this
project based on the state and city approvals in 2015. The Bozeman Taproom and Fill Station
has received multiple awards, including the Bozeman Beautification Award for "Adaptive Reuse"
in 2016, and my wife and I are extremely proud to have been a part of this project.
Julien and Jolene Morice