UPDATE: New Restaurant Wants 'Trex' Liquor License

UPDATE (12:26 p.m.) — This issue has been delayed until council's November committee meeting.

Some new guidelines about liquor license transfers approved by Kent City Council just last month are about to get tested.

Two women will ask council for approval of what's known as a "Trex" liquor license transfer, which is a state-approved process that allows a liquor licensed to be transferred into one community from another provided local leaders sign off on the transfer.

In Ohio, the number of liquor permits allowed per community is limited based on its population. In Kent, all of the available liquor licenses are owned or in use.

Kent resident Molly Taggart and her business partner Jessica Rutherford have proposed transferring a liquor license into Kent to run "Pay it Forward," a restaurant they hope to open at 154 N. DePeyster St., according to a memo from the city manager's office to Kent council.

Council approved somewhat strict guidelines in September that must be met in order to garner council's approval for a trex transfer. Among the requirements are an investment of $750,000 in the facility, which must have at least 4,000 square feet of dining space.

The guidelines approved by council last month also allow for case-by-case review.

Kent Economic Development Director Dan Smith said the womens' proposal falls short of the square footage requirements.

"As a result, they are requesting to be considered on the merits of their project," Smith wrote in a memo to the city manager.

In an August letter to Smith, the two women laid out their business proposal, which includes a private-label soda line and plans to employ 45 people. Their total investment budget is $750,000 including the $240,000 purchase price for the property, according to the letter.

The letter states the women are asking for endorsement of the liquor license transfer so the new restaurant can compete on a level playing field with Kent's other restaurants.

"Getting the Trex application endorsed by the city of Kent is vital for our business plan to be successful," the letter, which is signed by both Taggart and Rutherford, states.

The now vacant building served as Vineyard Community Church until it closed in January 2011.