City's 50-50 Liquor Rule: Is It Fair?

With the city ordinance that requires establishments sell at least as much food as liquor again earlier this week, it seems like a good time to re-examine the rule’s history—and to see what some of St. Louis Park's neighbors are doing.

The ordinance dates back to 2000, and it was established because the council did not want free-standing bars—and the potential issues that come with them—in St. Louis Park.

When was in late February for not hitting the 50-50 mark—a probation that was extended on Monday—all six current council members, along with Mayor Jeff Jacobs, voiced for the ordinance.

“I think we (SLP) set the tone that this is not a community of bars for drinking and getting drunk,” Ward 4 councilwoman Julia Ross said in an e-mail, “but a community focused on the overall dining and entertainment experience for fun.”

On Monday, council again seemed generally supportive of the ordinance, though there was some discussion of possibly tweaking the rule as it applies to the , potentially bringing down the food requirement to 40 percent because the area is known for its nightlife.

Having a 50-50 ordinance is not unique to St. Louis Park in the west metro. Hopkins requires the same split, and the city can put an establishment on probation for up to one year for not complying. Minnetonka has a very similar ordinance. Edina takes it a step further and requires that establishments sell at least 60 percent food.

Given this, and given council’s general support of the ordinance, it seems unlikely that the 50-50 rule will be abolished anytime soon in St. Louis Park. However, it would not be as surprising to see the ordinance modified to create a separate category for West End businesses. This area has been a boon for the city, and council certainly doesn’t want to lose tenants over receipts.