New Ulm City Council will require B & L Bar to have security supervise the alley during special events as a condition of granting liquor license extensions.

NEW ULM – B & L Bar will be required to provide security during special licensed events to supervise patrons in the alley.

During Tuesday’s New Ulm City Council meeting, the council approved five group applications for liquor license extensions. These extensions would allow Minnesota Street businesses to have alcohol service outside of the building into public right-of-ways during special events; such as Crazy Days, car roll-ins, Spikin’ in the Street and Oktoberfest.

B & L applied for the five separate liquor license extensions to use the alley adjacent to the bar as well as parts of Minnesota Street and was approved by the council, but with conditions, security be provided.

B & L, American Legion, 209 Pub & Grill, Kaiserhoff, and Rodney’s Tavern all applied for a liquor license extension for 2025 downtown events and were all approved by the council; but B & L’s approval came with added conditions.

During the license extension discussion, Councilor Eric Warmka said there had been contention between B & L and a neighboring property across the alley from the bar. The neighboring property owners have reported vandalism and defacement of the building caused by bar patrons. Warmka asked if the council should consider requiring extra supervision of the alley.

Councilor David Christian said some type of policing of the area was needed. He felt that since the city was given the bar use of the entire alley right-of-way, staff supervision was a small ask. He also suggested the B & L might need to create a permanent patio in the rear of the building as other bars had done. There is also an option of applying for a parklet out front.

Warmka was not certain a patio or parklet option would be enough because B & L is often the hub for downtown events and attracts hundreds of patrons.

The council considered requesting extra police presence during special events.

New Ulm Police Chief David Borchert was at the meeting and said his department was willing to stop at B & L and check in during events, but said they did not have enough staffing for an officer to monitor the alley the full night.

Councilor Tom Schmitz suggested they require B & L to hire security for these events.

Councilor Larry Mack agreed it was a reasonable ask. He said Schell’s Brewery hires extra security for their large events.

Warmka said if B & L events are getting this big, they might need to hire security.

The council briefly discussed prohibiting B & L from using the alley, but Warmka pushed back against this suggestion, believing it was too strict.

“I feel like we are hurting someone who is trying to make the city different,” Warmka said. He did not want to discourage B & L from hosting popular events.

Mayor Kathleen Backer said during her time organizing Heritagefest, security was required. The B & L alleyway extensions were not the same level, but she felt some kind of security should be required.

“In order to move forward, I would recommend looking at having security whether it is in-house security or hiring off-duty police.”

Warmka made the motion to authorize the liquor license extension request for B & L, with the condition a security detail be provided by the bar owner.

“I think with some supervision, this will change,” he said.

The resolution with the security condition was unanimously authorized by the council.

The first license extension event of the season will be the downtown Car & Bike Roll-in event on Saturday, June 14.