Meow Wolf liquor license decision on hold

The Santa Fe City Council has postponed a decision to approve Meow Wolf’s request for approval of a full liquor license and a waiver to use the license within 300 feet of a school.

At Wednesday’s City Council meeting, most councilors were apprehensive about a full liquor license for the arts group’s popular “House of Eternal Return,” where beer and wine already is served under a Duel Brewing license.

Councilors brought up concerns of bringing an additional liquor license into a city that Councilor Chris Rivera described as “oversaturated” with them. Meow Wolf would use a license from a closed Hobbs establishment. Councilors also questioned full liquor service with spirits in what’s been a familyfriendly art installation space and potentially deviating from Meow Wolf’s original business model.

“It almost feels like an identity crisis to me,” said Councilor Michael Harris. He said he’s afraid the group is putting too much emphasis on its secondary role as a concert venue.

Meow Wolf needs approval from the council to transfer the license from the closed Hobbs restaurant and to sell alcohol within 300 feet of day care La Petite Academy. The collective presented letters of support from the day care, longtime supporter George R.R. Martin and others.

If the license is approved, Duel would leave, and Meow Wolf would operate food and beverage service itself. Meow Wolf staffers told the council the plan is to also use the license as part of a cafe with coffee and snacks during the day. Chief operating officer Sean Di Ianni said taking over the services would add about 15 jobs at Meow Wolf.

Meow Wolf’s general counsel Talia Kosh told councilors that Meow Wolf is at an “economic disadvantage” without a liquor license as it tries to compete with other music venues. Di Ianni said a liquor license is the only option because beer and wine licenses are available only to businesses with food as the primary revenue.

Councilor Ron Trujillo, who’s running for mayor in 2018, left before the discussion and said he would be recusing himself from decisions on Meow Wolf. He said CEO Vince Kadlubeck has been “attacking” him on social media following the arts group’s request for $250,000 from the city in July and Trujillo’s tough questions before voting in favor. “(Kadlubek) called me a bully, he felt he was intimidated by the line of questions and to this day continues to do it,” said Trujillo.