The Madison City Council voted unanimously Tuesday night to approve the construction of a new, 550-person capacity sports bar on University Square.
The Brink family, owners of Brink Lounge on E. Washington Avenue, plan to build The Field Pass, 702 W. Johnson St., at the newly revamped University Square. The owners said, We're just excited to go into it.""
Although the restaurant will serve alcohol and is located within the city's new alcohol density plan, those in support of the building said the Brinks went to great lengths to ensure every concern was answered. Ald. Eli Judge, District 8, addressed concerns about the restaurant becoming a bar by saying of the menu, ""The thing reads like a novel.""
Community activist Rosemary Lee added that food, not packaged chips and pretzels will be served at the building.
Still, members of the Alcohol Issues
Committee disagreed with the idea of adding more density to the downtown area. One member even asked, ""Is it really going to be a restaurant or is it going to be a bar?""
City Council President Mike Verveer signed off on The Field Pass and said the sports bar will add a needed commodity to the downtown area.
