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The Alcohol License Review Committee approved Mad Town Ventures’ request for a liquor license Wednesday night for Chaser’s Bar and Grill, a future bar to be located on West Gorham Street.
Chaser’s will replace Quinton’s Bar and Deli at 319 W. Gorham St.
Several times, Quinton’s Bar and Deli violated the alcohol statute requiring a restaurant with a liquor license make no more than 50 percent of its profits from alcohol sales.
“The committee has quite a history with Quinton’s,” said Ald. Mike Verveer, District 4. “Unfortunately, it’s not the most positive history.”
ALRC member Chet Gerlach echoed Verveer, saying Quinton’s wasn’t much of a kitchen, but more just a bunch of microwaves.
According to William Rudy, manager of Chaser’s, the restaurant plans to serve a full menu until closing time, following its future slogan: “Great food and fun.”
Rudy’s inspiration for Chaser’s was sparked when his two children at the University of Wisconsin told him there are not enough late-night dining venues around campus offering an extensive menu.
“Quinton’s [was] more just a deli and sandwich place,” Rudy said. “They just never wanted to go down that street.”
ALRC members voiced concern about the location of Chaser’s because of the rocky history with the previous establishment and students’ demand for alcohol.
Alcohol Policy Coordinator Katherine Plominski said the menu itself appeared to be better than Quinton’s.
“I think that Chaser’s will be a significant improvement from Quinton’s just looking at the menu,” Plominski said. “It’s much more than just sandwiches and a bag of chips — it’s a huge difference.”
Ald. Michael Schumacher, District 18, was concerned about students potentially abusing the restaurant as another late night bar.
Rudy said if he builds a great, quality restaurant and the students are treated with respect, there should be no problems.
He added he has been a successful businessman for the past 28 years.
ALRC member Marsh Shapiro said he was looking forward to seeing Chaser’s in service, and he wishes Rudy well.
“With his background, I’m much more confident with the possibility of him being pretty successful than I am with some of the applicants we’ve had in the past couple of years,” Shapiro said.
Plominski said under state law Chaser’s can stay open as a restaurant after bar time. Rudy was confident he will maintain restaurant status as opposed to bar status.
Chaser’s will open at 10 a.m. every morning and stop serving alcohol before they stop serving food. Rudy wants to keep the bar and grill open until 2:30 or 3 a.m.
“This is a great location,” Rudy said. “This is a great downtown area. And kids love to eat.”
The ALRC also approved extending the hours of Samba, the popular downtown restaurant on
Correction:The times stated in the last sentence of the print version of this story were unclear.
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is the guy on the left the ‘muscle’ for shorty?
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Is it me or do the 2 guys in the picture look like the weirdo’s in the rent-a-car building from the Verizon commercial?
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Microwaves? Gerlach and the article need to be corrected. They grilled their food (as opposed to fat fryers which much of the downtown has) and made fresh to order, so it was actually a healthier alternative.
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I love Quinton’s food, they have the best nachos… they will be missed.
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What is the date this switch occur?
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Yeah there’s only one microwave at that place… I don’t think that constitutes a bunch.
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Lots of BS here. As a Q’s employee I have not heard anything about the closing—props to the quality management. Am I supposed to show up to work tonight?? And that crap about poor food. Q’s has some of the best sandwiches on campus. Has no one heard of the spin dip? WTF. This is a bad move. Whatever goes in at that spot is a bar and will always be a bar.
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Am I supposed to show up for work tonight??
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Anyone who complains about Quinton’s food has never eaten there. Quinton’s was always treated like shit by the ALRC.
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What makes a menu better or worse? You said it was? ALRC members need to do some research before they pass judgement or give quotes to the paper. The paper should probably follow up on its sources to be sure that they are accurate (Microwaves? Quintons has like 30 grilled sanwiches and a ton of soups and salads). And the town “government” needs a new hobby besides seeing what they can do to further there own careers in politics. Another good business wasted. Lets sell downtown to a Corporate Pizza Place and everyone will be happy.
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Hope some hot bitches come to chasers
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hope some lil babies come to chasers i love lil babies
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I hope Chasers has some hotter bartenders the bartenders at Q’s are dudes or duds
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Chet… Do your research.
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Quinton’s food is a nice contrast to the franchise food that seems to be taking over more of the State Street area. I’ve enjoyed eating there, and I’ll be sorry to see it go. The problem is that it is easier to come down on the businesses that serve alcohol, and put them out of business, than to take on directly the culture of alcohol in our community.
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WTF whoever these guys are who are passing judgment on Quinton’s and the food has obviously never been there. A bunch of microwaves? EVERY kitchen has a microwave, sorry to break the news to you guys. What a bunch of BULLSHIT! Let’s be honest the ALRC is a racket run by a bunch of inbreeds.
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I do not know what kind of “hard on” the ALRC & City of Madison had for Quinton’s. The food at Quinton’s is the favorite non-franchise menu near State Street that my wife and I would consistantly enjoy. In fact, we liked Quinton’s so well that we hired them to carter a number of private parties for us. I sure would like to know were Chet Gerrlach come up with the only a bunch of microwaves in the kitchen idea. I have loved State Street for many years and live in fear that the City will screw it up sooner or later.
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Now I know why Q’s is out of all their beer and liquor…
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When will the ALRC, and particularly Mike Verveer, wise-up to the underline causes of alchol abuse and stop beating up businesses? I am always upset when franchise business trumps local and MOM & Pop efforts.
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As a “dud” bartender at Quintons I would just like to say that most of the people who come into Quintons are regulars. Our regulars love the place for it’s food, great specials, but more importantly the “dudes” and “duds” behind the bar. So for the anonymous poster of that incredibly rude comment. Maybe you’re the one that is a dud…
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quintons better not go
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Quinton’s has great food, and I can’t believe they’re being replaced by a bar with a name as obvious and cheesy as “Chaser’s.” I’m sorry, but who cares if they made more than 50% of their profits from alcohol sales as long as they’re doing well, and are popular? Bravo ALRC. Bravo.
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I have been going to Quinton’s since it opened and still come back to enjoy it after moving out of Madison. I love the Quinton’s menu and welcomed that it wasn’t the typical greasy fried food of other bars. Fresher sandwiches, bread bowls, and spuds with fantastic appetizers are unique items that made this laid back bar a place that anyone can enjoy. You will be missed by those that enjoyed you, Q’s!
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anyone know what date Quinton’s is actually closing?
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Gimme a TAC and FUCK Marsh Shapiro.
Church!