Councilors: Vishnu Bunny License To Stay

Sioux Falls Mayor Mike Huether wants the city council to reconsider its approval of Vishnu Bunny’s malt beverage license. City councilors say that’s not likely.

One of four councilors who cast an approving vote would have to make the reconsideration request. At least three of them say they will not ask for a revote.

“It has to be done in pretty short order. In visiting with the other councilors, I don't see that happening,” city councilor Greg Jamison said.

Jamison voted to grant Vishnu Bunny's Malt Beverage license, along with Kenny Anderson Junior, Kermit Staggers and Jim Entenman.

“I will not be bringing the issue back,” Entenman said, “We want to know about the security plan. He told us about the security plan. He had to submit one when he applied for the license,” Entenman said.

The license means the business can serve any time. During Tuesday’s city council meeting, the owner said he planned to sell just once a month during downtown First Fridays. According to the city council members, it's not uncommon to own a license and use it sparingly. They also say with years of experience, the business knows the ramifications of serving alcohol while tattooing customers.

“When he's tattooing, he cannot be drinking and people cannot be drinking or be drunk when he's tattooing them. That's a violation of his license. And he does not want to lose his license,” Entenman said.

“We all were pretty confident about the applicant's ability to do a good job. He promised us he'd do his business,” Jamison said.

In a phone call Wednesday evening, Staggers said he also saw no reason bringing the issue up again.

Mayor Huether city concerns with tattoos and city ordinance and a typographical error by city employees in notification letters about the request sent to neighbors. Jamison said he attempted to send the issue back and begin the approval process over, but the council went ahead with the vote.