The Boulder Beverage Licensing Authority voted June 18 to grant a hotel-restaurant liquor license to Kura Sushi USA Inc., doing business as Kura Revolving Sushi Bar, for Unit 1152 at 1855—20 Ninth Street in Boulder.

Alcohol Petitioning Services presented petitioning results: APS canvassed the neighborhood and obtained 92 total signatures (59 business signatures and 33 resident signatures), with 91 signatures in favor and one resident in opposition. APS described methodology, attempts (420 businesses and residents visited) and contact rates; the consultant reported 63.4% of eligible persons contacted provided signatures.

Dennis Zacatenko, the proposed general manager with more than eight years with the company, described operations: conveyor-belt sushi plates priced at $3.85, a menu that includes nigiri, rolls and ramen, and alcohol offerings of draft beer, bottled beer, sake and wine. The applicant plans about 45 employees with roughly 16 staff handling alcohol; a training team will come on-site for pre-opening training and may remain up to three months. Kura said it will verify IDs at the table before serving alcohol, bring alcohol to the table (not on the conveyor), and require additional manager verification when presented with Colorado vertical IDs.

Board members asked about past compliance; counsel said the company had a state citation (fine) in Minnesota that was handled as a monetary penalty and the company otherwise has no suspensions or revocations in U.S. operations. Members praised the applicant’s training program and petitioning results and voted to approve the license. Member Roberts moved to approve and Member Crane seconded; the motion passed by voice vote.

Ending: Licensing staff will follow up with the applicant on final steps and timing for opening; the applicant told the authority it anticipates opening July 21.