Midtown business struggling to get liquor license since 2019 giving up on hope
ST. LOUIS, Mo. (First Alert 4) - Julian Davis, owner of Rouge Bistro, tells First Alert 4 that customers come from around the St. Louis area to experience his restaurant.
“They say how well the building smells, the vibe, the colors, the lighting. They said it doesn’t feel like it’s something that’s located in St. Louis, and that’s kind of what I was going for,” says Davis.
Davis says he offers a variety of food, but he’s missing one thing.
“Once I tell them that I don’t have a liquor license, they turn around and leave,” he says.
Davis tells First Alert 4, he has applied for a liquor license with the City of St. Louis three times, beginning in 2019. In 2019 and 2022, he lacked the number of signatures required.
The process for getting a liquor license has since been streamlined for some. In 2024, Mayor Tishaura Jones signed off on Bill 60, a new liquor licensing process. It puts businesses through a court hearing process.
According to Davis, he must still get signatures to approve his license because his business is larger than 4,000 square feet.
“I’ve been hitting the streets even when it’s 10, 20 degrees outside just to get people to sign,” says Davis.
People in the community and businesses can still protest the application.
Davis attended a liquor license application hearing in January. He was told there are 11 people coming out against his business selling alcohol.
The owner believes he is being targeted saying, “I’m the only establishment in Midtown that doesn’t have a liquor license. Every other restaurant, bar, lounge or whatever has a liquor license.”
He is trying to gather enough signatures by March 3, the deadline given to him by the city.
And while Davis is proud of the historic building in the Locust Business District, he is rethinking his decision.
“I wish that I could lift my building up and move it to Clayton or St. Charles because I would. I heard that the liquor license process isn’t as hard as it is for the City of St. Louis,” says Davis.
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