Minot Liquor License Regulations Claim Latest Business Casualty

The doors are locked, the lights are turned off, and all signs point to Sidekicks bar and grill being closed for good. Though the owner of the establishment has not yet been reached for comment, Rob Teets, the Charitable Gaming Manager for the Minot Hockey Boosters which previously operated the gaming inside of Sidekicks confirmed the business has closed.

“We lost a gaming site that employed between eight and nine employees and a location that produced 25% of our income, so we’re going to take a pretty big hit,” said Teets.

Sidekicks had been operating under a conditional license that was the result of an administrative hearing in December of 2015. At that time, the business was given until June 1st to come into compliance with Minot’s liquor license laws under which the establishment was licensed to sell liquor and beer through a hotel license.

An investigation by the Minot Police Department earlier this month established that the hotel operating on the site was not in compliance with conditions of a Minot hotel-motel retail liquor and beer sales license which requires at least a hundred rentable rooms. Further, Shine Time LLC, the legal entity operating Sidekicks was not connected to the hotel operation.

Per that investigation, the Minot Police Department was recommending the Liquor and Gambling Control Committee deny the license renewal request of Shine Time LLC.

Based on testimony given at the December administrative hearing, Sidekicks had more than 30 employees.