The Alcohol License Review Committee unanimously granted a liquor license to the new owners of the Majestic Theatre Wednesday night, breathing life into the venue and possibly the general King Street area.
Along with their primary investor and architect, Majestic owners Matt Gerding, Scott Leslie and Bryan Ellefson convinced the ALRC to approve the license despite concerns surrounding past violence and venue capacity.
""This historic building deserves a fresh start,"" Leslie said. ""We cannot be any clearer that we are not Club Majestic and that our business line is entirely different.""
Even with the passing of the license, Leslie stressed the venue will be event-focused, providing live music and movies, among other entertainment, as an alternative to Madison bars and nightclubs.
""We realize that there are citizens of Madison who go out for the sole purpose of drinking and getting intoxicated,"" Leslie said. ""There are any number of taverns in Madison that will have an environment much more conducive to this type of mentality.""
Ald. Mike Verveer, District 4, strongly supported the license proposal and said every King Street area-business with whom he had spoken shared his enthusiasm. He heralded the venue as a place that ""won't involve needing a fake ID to have a good time.""
""I've worked with [the owners] for a long time, and I trust them,"" Verveer said. ""Will they be successful? I don't know. Over the years I've seen a lot of applicants come and go, and a lot of them unfortunately haven't worked out. ... For our community, I hope this works out.""
Others were not as optimistic.
""There is a lot of fear and skepticism in the neighborhood because of some of the things that have happened on King Street in the past that have been attributed to people at Club Majestic,"" Capitol Neighborhoods Inc. President Ledell Zellers said.
Zellers said ""that was then and this is now,"" noting the Majestic's previous owners were also experienced and had a seemingly good plan, and they failed nonetheless.
The owners said one way they hope to separate themselves from past owners is by targeting all demographics, providing entertainment for people of all ages and music tastes. Although all age groups will be welcome, Leslie said the theatre will implement a strict wristband policy to control underage drinking.
If all goes as planned, the new Majestic should open in September.
""We are fully confident that, given the chance to prove our worth, the city will enhance and embrace and support [us],"" Leslie said.
