With only one retail liquor license available and two local businesses interested in the permit, it looked like the Powell City Council would have to make a tough decision on Tuesday night. But it wound up being an easy one.

After the other applicant dropped out of the running, the council unanimously awarded the license to a new Mexican restaurant, bar and meat store. The business, which will be known as Amigos, plans to sell package liquor and locally raised meat while also offering catering. It could open as soon as next month.

“We feel like Powell could use something new … and something a little different,” Jose Garcia Jr. told the council Tuesday night.

He said they’ll offer a different authentic version of Mexican food along with American fare. Garcia said they’ll feature various specials and potentially stay open as late as 2 a.m.

“It’s going to be kind of a little different vibe, I think, and something that I feel like a lot of people are going to enjoy,” he said.

Garcia and his father own Jose’s Meat Processing, and he told the Tribune they’ve been looking to branch out. For one thing, Jose Y Jose Inc. has been seeking a more convenient spot to sell meat, as their location on Lane 8 is a little out of the way. When Pepe’s Mexican Restaurant closed their North Bent Street business last year, Garcia jumped on the opportunity to have a presence downtown.

After months of work, the construction on Amigos’ interior is almost finished, but the liquor license remained in limbo until Tuesday night.

Supporting a new business

State law prohibits the City of Powell from issuing more than 14 retail liquor licenses and when one became available this year, both Jose Y Jose Inc. and Hillside Floral LLC applied for the rare permit.

Hillside Floral co-owner Shelley Hill said she’s long been looking to offer a wine bar and sell gourmet wine baskets at her South Fair Street store. However, after learning of the Garcias’ plans, Hill decided to withdraw her application. She notified the city just ahead of Tuesday’s meeting.

“It didn’t make sense for me to take that [liquor license] from them,” Hill later explained to the Tribune. “I’d rather them have it and be able to have success with that.”

Instead, Hill is hoping to work with the city and the state to find a different type of license that better suits what she wants to do.

In the meantime, Hillside’s withdrawal meant that the council had little to do but greenlight the Garcias’ proposal. 

Councilman Steve Lensegrav complimented the plans for promotions like “Tacos and Tequila” while Councilman Troy Bray said it would be beneficial to have a vendor that can cater Park County events with both liquor and food.

Moving forward

Several people attended the meeting in support of Amigos, but they wound up not needing to speak.

“Of course, it was a little bit of a relief,” Garcia said of how it felt to hear that Hillside Floral had withdrawn, “but it was also cool to hear that they actually supported our plan, too.”

He added that he hopes Hillside is able to move forward with its plans.

As for Amigos, he’s hoping that the new venture can help Jose Y Jose Inc. eventually expand its slaughterhouse and partner more with local farmers. The restaurant’s locally sourced meat, he added, could draw more customers to Powell.

Garcia intends to open Amigos’ doors sometime in March, or by April at the latest. He said they’ll likely start by offering breakfast and operating a bar later in the day; lunch and dinner service could come by summertime as the business staffs up.

“I just want to make sure we’re focusing on doing the things right,” Garcia said.