Foggy's next generation questioned by City Council

Sault Ste. Marie City Council is asking the Alcohol and Gaming Commission to consider neighbourhood residents' concerns before transferring a liquor license to new owners of a popular downtown lounge and entertainment venue.

Ward 4 City Councillor Rick Niro says residents in the downtown have reasonable concerns about the establishment formerly known as Foggy Notions.

They say issues with noise and patrons causing disturbances, leaving debris like cigarette butts on neighbouring properties and vandalizing neighbouring properties have long been neighbourhood concerns with the establishment.

This, says Niro, is the perfect opportunity for the city to get involved and make sure those issues are addressed by the new owners.

For the new owners to reopen the establishment, they would have to transfer the liquor license that allows them to sell alcoholic beverages to their name.

The Alcohol and Gaming Commission is mandated to afford input from applicants' neighbours and City Councils before issuing new licenses or transferring existing licenses.

"Please understand I'm not suggesting the neighbours or City Council is against this establishment reopening," he said. "We just want to make sure the neighbours' concerns are addressed."

He also said some of the neighbours have met with the new managers of the establishment and already begun to address their concerns.

Foggy Notions changed hands and shut down for renovations a few months ago.

Shown in this SooToday.com file photo is Foggy's on the night it reopened last in December 2009.