ST. CLOUD - The St. Cloud City Council has denied a request for liquor license for a new bar in downtown.

A group of four people had planned to open "The Pickled Loon" at 715 West St. Germain Street, in the former McRudy's Pub building.

The council's main concern is that one of the four applicants was employed at McRudy's since 2002. Council Member John Libert says he's not comfortable that anything would be different.

The council unanimously denied the liquor license request, however council members Dave Masters and Carol Lewis encouraged the group to continue to work with city staff to tweak their business plan, and bring it back to the council.

One of the four applicants, Christopher Jost, told the council they were building their business model based on what the White Horse bar has done, with 60 percent of their business higher-end food, and 40 percent of their business liquor sales. He says their plan is to move away from a college bar, and offer an atmosphere and menu for older adults.

They also were planning to have 20 lines of craft beers.

The former McRudy's Pub has been closed since early June.  The city council denied the renewal of their liquor license in late June.

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