Carson City orders Remedy's bar owner to attend show-cause hearing over violations, manager says they 'did not understand the urgency'
Submitted by Kelsey Penrose on Thu, 09/21/2023 - 10:53am
The Carson City Board of Supervisors voted Thursday to institute a show-cause hearing for Remedy’s bar in Carson City as to why they have been operating without a liquor manager and a valid business license with the state of Nevada.
According to city staff, during a routine audit of liquor licenses, it was determined that all but one business in Carson City had an up-to-date liquor manager: Remedy’s.
Staff attempted to make contact with the owner or manager of the bar several times and on Aug. 3, Mary Sellers, who identified herself as the new business owner of Remedy’s, visited the counter at the Business License Division and obtained both a business license application and a liquor license application. They told staff they would complete the applications and return the next day.
To date, Sellers has not submitted any paperwork. She did, however, attend the supervisors meeting, and agreed to answer questions form the board.
She told the board that for the past year she has helped the owner of Remedy’s, Michelle Rodriguez, to manage the bar, but she has not purchased the business.
She claimed that Rodriguez has had some personal and health issues, and opened a new business, which is why she could not attend the meeting as “she is required by law to be on site at all times” at her new business, according to Sellers.
She said that Rodriguez “did not intend to do anything illegal.”
“I think small businesses need to be supported — yes some mistakes were made, but I can assure you that going forward, I will not make those mistakes,” Sellers said.
Sellers said that neither she nor Rodriguez “understood the urgency” of the issue.
“So, I’m sorry, but I hope moving forward that’s not held against me,” Sellers said.
According to Secretary of State’s Office records, the entity status was “default” until staff checked before the Supervisor’s meeting, and has now been changed to “active.”
Mayor Lori Bagwell said she was in favor of a show-cause hearing to have Remedy’s answer for the fact that they were operating without a business license and without a liquor manager.
“Anyone who operates without a business license … it’s a known requirement. I think they need to come before us and answer to the issues,” Bagwell said. “You haven’t complied with our rules and what makes us think you’re going to comply?”
Supervisor Stacey Giomi agreed, stating that the bar has been operating illegally and a show-cause hearing is “absolutely warranted.”
Supervisor Lisa Schuette said she is concerned about the lack of initiative shown by the bar, especially with the city reaching out, and obtaining the paperwork but not following through.
Supervisors were frustrated that Remedy’s cannot be barred from selling liquor until their show-cause hearing, which Giomi called a “flaw in the code that needs to be fixed.”
“We ought to be able to at least cite them for every day they sell alcohol that they don’t have a legal liquor license,” Giomi said. “It’s appalling we have a business that is illegally selling alcohol. I hate it, it’s wrong.”
Supervisor Maurice White said the city has an “overall deficiency” in managing non-compliant businesses, and compared Remedy’s to the “illegal fruit stands in the city.”
“This business has thumbed its nose at the rules and regulations they’re supposed to follow (and) is no different than the city continuing to allow these illegal fruit stands to operate,” White said. “This is an overall global issue and we need to stop allowing these businesses to put our community in jeopardy whether it’s a bar, a casino or these illegal fruit sales.”
Supervisors voted to hold a show-cause hearing on Oct. 5 to determine whether or not Remedy’s will have their business license revoked or suspended.
