just so you know... I am not a high school friend of Matt's wife. I live in the neighborhood and have for seventeen years. I stated my address before I started speaking. I have known Connie for 24 years, and also stated that in my comments. I guess some people just don't pay attention to anything unless it is exactly what they want to hear.

I think if there was a demand for HGTV on big screens in a bar we would see it somewhere. I don't think the bar atmosphere is conducive to that type of television viewing. As people get more intoxicated they talk louder and it would get difficult to hear those soft talking designers mumble about the mauve paint they are going to redo the master bedroom in. And after they got truly trashed there would be slap fights over whether they should keep the hardwood floors bare or put down the oriental rug. The cops would be there all the time, it would be like Corvina's part 2.

Is it unbelievable an 18 year old is drinking or drinking and driving or is it unbelievable she was drunk and caused an accident? Maybe its unbelievable an 18 year old was able to get liquor? I see articles like this all the time so while it is sad, it is anything but unbelievable.

I live in the neighborhood and am pleased to see that this is being given the go ahead. I am looking forward to being able to grab a burger and watch a game without driving across town. The majority of bars and establishments that serve alcohol in this town are in or very near residential areas, without many problems (ex. Spirits, Bad Brad’s, Tremors, Deano’s West, Jumbos, Watering Hole, East Point, Blackbridge Bowl, Elra Bowl, River’s Edge, etc.). This concept has worked in many communities. Given the fact it would be offering something no current establishments do within the city limits, it deserves a chance. The ALAC has proven itself to be effective and persistent in dealing with problem establishments, and I trust them to make the right decision regarding the alcohol at this location. Quite frankly, I’ll be happy to see more business and people in the southern Milton Avenue area. This area is plagued by vacant commercial properties. In recent weeks there have been a number of disturbing crimes, including an armed robbery and a purse snatching in the area. I will be relieved to have more going on in the neighborhood, and feel higher traffic flow would be a deterrent to some of these dangerous crimes. I don’t even feel safe walking my dog anymore. The city should be doing everything it can to encourage businesses to utilize the properties available within the city, instead of constantly building new along the outskirts of town. The bottom line is that we live in a country based on free enterprise. Matt and Kim have the right, with the city’s approval, to try to make a go of this. If there is a demand for it, it will succeed. If not, then this whole argument is a moot point anyway. Maybe it will work, maybe it won’t, but I am glad that the city is giving it the opportunity.

Sarahb1-He may not have owned any restaurants directly, but his vision and actions created jobs and opportunities for others to grow businesses including restaurants. It is the trickle down of his actions that helped revitalize Beloit.

Beloit has always been light years ahead of Janesville in fine dining and culteral activities. The reason? Beloit College. Janesville has a culture of beer and football on a wide screen. Neither one better than the other, just different. We are 2 communities with our own identities.

theone: Indeed, Mr. Hendricks loved Beloit and led its survival after Beloit Corporation closed and thousands lost their jobs. However, I can't think of any restaurants that are directly linked to his successful efforts.

TheJoker wrote..." Beloit can do it, why can't we?"

Well, actually, the late Ken Hendricks was the impetus behind Beloit's ressurrection..

Perhaps it's time for you Joker, to put your money where your mouth is and make your legacy here, as others have done elsewhere...

In other words...put up or shut up.

Just what Janesville needs another bar!

Vulcanflower- Unfortunately the rules of commenting don't relate to certain people here. Things like spelling well enough to understand what they mean, making sense, being civil or having a point does not pertain to these people.
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"haha doors we terrible"-?????

hannah-At the risk of repeating myself; What ever it is you're on, next time you decide to sprout off here, please bring enough for everybody. Your posts go from ridiculous to down right idiotic. Maybe you should P R E V I E W your comments before you post. JMO

Hannah, you assume the Club and the food are worth spending over the minimum! Not! LOL

StuCazzo, your suggestion sounds very interesting. I would like to discuss it with you further and yes, some people were not from the neighborhood.

R1234, are you serious? The plan commission went against the neighborhood in favor of testimony from the applicants friends? This is ridiculous, unfair, and an insult to the concept of good representation. With Matt's background obviously not an issue, what's next for Janesville? Gay Nascar bath houses? A brothel, perhaps?

I assume you live near me. I'm going to get together a petition, and I'll bet we get plenty of signatures to keep this place out of neighborhood. Have you talked to the city council? I had an interesting conversation about this subject today.

I don't even want the lights over the volley ball court. There's plenty of light pollution as it is. Since government isn't listening, perhaps it's time to organize a neighborhood association and make them listen.

Hannah, my point about going to the Club is that I am tired of this being the only place. When I have already met my minimum, I am looking for better options. Beloit has some great places to eat and I prefer to wine and dine there rather than Fuddruckers or Perkins.

Don Allison wrote a book about that area:

Blackbridge Road

Hedberg has it and it's for sale at the New World book store in the stip mall across from the Janesville mall.

Hannah, surely, you jest. I guess you don't have a scanner. You only know what is reported in the Gazette. How naive.

Hannah, I am glad that you agree with me. I do belong to the Janesville Country Club. I wine and dine people there but I am concerned for the average person in Janesville. They can't come to the Club so their options are limited.
Cracker Barrel?! Boring and bland.

I do blame people in Janesville for not supporting local Mom and Pop restaurants. Maybe this is a telling sign that there is not enough cultured citizens or people who appreciate fine cuisine in Janesville. Beloit can do it, why can't we?

StuCazzo, I was there at the meeting. Yes, he had several people support the plan who were not from the immediate neighborhood; some high school friends of his wife, also. Those who objected were from the immediate neighborhood. Ms. Helgerson erroneously stated that they fix cars in the parking lot at Napa Auto Parts, therefore, the residents are used to the noise. She couldn't be more wrong in her assessment. Also, it was brought up that the 5 baseball diamonds generate noise in the summer, however, they close early because there are no lights on the field (another reason to not place a bar in the neighborhood). The issue of safety was summarily dismissed, the issue of Matt's indiscretions regarding his past was also dismissed with the explanation that the ALAC would address it...hmmm. When Matt balked at having to close the volleyball court at 8:00 per Mr. Perotta (Plan Commission), they changed it to 9:00 to satisfy Matt. The neighbors were left feeling that the Plan Commission has let them down. They knew that the property was zoned B1 Community Shopping District, for which they have no problem but that the City Plan Commission decided to grant Conditional Use to a tavern in the area had many shaking their heads and expressing concern as they left the meeting. I suspect that many were left questioning the entire process since there were people in support of Mr. Dewitt at the meeting who really had no ties to the neighborhood but had ties to him, instead, and will not be impacted by the location of this bar. It is really just a bar. Use of the outdoor patio will be in operation all year. Mr. Dewitt's claim that the volleyball is central to his business holds no water. The volleyball courts will only be open a few months per year.

Is your neighborhood next? At the rate that Janesville is adding bars and promoting this type of lifestyle, it puts it out of the running for any type of industry that would employ more than 10-15 people. I doubt that even manufacturing would want to deal with the problems of alcohol in respect to mandates regarding rehab: More bars and more housing turning to rentals as people leave the area in general. Not a good sign.

"That despite warnings from staff that it is a new concept, and a neighbor's fears that drunk patrons would make her feel unsafe." OMG are you serious? I am sure this place will be safer that Corvina's

Joker - You can blame the people that live here. There has been attempts at original restaurants only to fail because people don't frequent them. They would rather go to Apple-bees. That's the real shame.

Hey Joker, you can always take them to the Cracker Barrel. Janesville's finest restaurant.

joker, I guess when in Janesville you'll have to take your women to the usual place, Chez Crawlspace.

Mayhem, please enlighten me on home grown restuarants. Where could I take a women for a nice romantic dinner? Where could I take an out of town business client to lunch or dinner?
I find that I have to go to Beloit to do this. Real shame.

Let's get back to the story at hand, this bar. I just read that city staff was against volleyball courts because of the potential for noise/etc.

Interesting that the plan commission went ahead with it against recommendations.

So it needs 3 conditional use permits even to open. I wonder how many people who spoke at the PC meeting were from then neighborhood directly and not just friends of Matt and Kim. Don't they require you to register, and use your address at these meetings?

callit... what expletives. And it's low-brow to focus on typos.

Does joker live under a rock to say there are no mom and pop places to eat in Janesville??

I would think the Gazette would eliminate Hannah as a user on this site for her foul and vulgar comments to me. At least she can properly spell expletives.

StuCazzo: I certainly hope you wash your hands after your favorite "outlet," especially if you take part in it just before dinner.

hannah-What ever it is you're on, next time you decide to sprout off here, please bring enough for everybody.

joker, you still need to work on your racism. You see it it everywhere where it isn't. Take off the sheet and look at the real world.

Hannah, your comment about gangster wannabees not playing volleyball is racist. You assume that people of color or the people that went to Corvina's do not play volleyball. It is exactly this ass backwards type of thinking that causes racial tension. You sound like a very angry and troubled person. I suggest you talk to someone about this before it gets the worst of you.

I have to agree with those that have stated the owner's personal past alchohol and drug charges should bar him from opening up shop.
I also agree that the last thing Janesville needs is another bar.

I live in the neighborhood (2 blocks away) and would love to see this place open.

I love how some people are more than happy to welcome another bar to the city even though the owner has been in trouble with the law! But if the bar attracted patrons of color, you would be falling all over yourselves bashing this new bar. Sound familiar? Hmm...I recall a bar in downtown Janesville that was shut down because of problems outside the bar. So, if the patrons of the new bar start to hang out in front of the bar or walk or puke on people's lawns, should the place be closed down?

If you think this is good because the new bar will create jobs, then you are a fool. More than likely, it will contribute to people losing jobs. Nothing against bars or drinking. I frequent and do both. Let the market decide it's future. If it can make it, good for them.

I do like the idea for an Italian restaurant. Janesville has no original Mom & Pop type or ethnic eating establishments. I am tired of all of the chain restaurants or Chinese buffet
places. Nothing unique or original. I wish we could have the great restaurants like Beloit has!

Hannah: I cannot believe that you used the word “romantical” when trying to argue your point. I try not to pick on you for your spelling or grammar however I am truly shocked that you would use that word and then quote Rosanne of all people it actually took me a few minutes just to get over the shock that you would use that in an argument. Ok I am better now.

Ha ha ha "expestional"???? That may be the best one EVER! The first suggestion on spell check is expositional. Is that what you meant?

Hannah--- Sam's is right there on the corner of where they're talking about. Jim's Pizza is on the other side of town. Two non chain Italian restaurants. Both VERY good.

Sorry, but Italian house is not that good. It's decent food at a reasonable price, but far from good Italian food. They don't even know what real Italian bread is supposed to taste like. Their sauce taste like sugar and their bread taste like a sweet roll. Only a local would think that place is good Italian food. Growing up with a heavy Italian population and having Italian family members, I've had my share of real Italian food. If you want a lot of food at a good price, then Italian house is the place to go. However, if you want decent Italian food then move to another city or state. The only good Italian food I've had in the area was at Sweet Aroma in Delavan, but unfortunately the owners moved the business.

Poor neighbors won't be able to sleep at 8:30 over all the drunken arguments, "it was in, no it was out".
Do these neighbors compalin about all the noise on Fridays and Saturdays as they are on one end of the Milton Avenue circuit. It could be good entertainment to have a few drunk drivers mix in with all those teeny boppers racing up and down Milton Avenue.

StuCazzo- your looking for a place to go out in town thats not a chain? Why not Italian House in its NEW BUILDING on Racine St. Edmond makes the best Italian dishes and thtas just one place. Did you know you can dine in at Sams? They also have a FULLmenu of Italian dishes along with Steaks and some Seafood items Also NOT a chain! Oh and if your looking for Thai food whats wrong with Nee's Taste Of Thai? Mexican?- El Jardin! StuCazzo you obviously just have a problem with the potential owners of this new bar. I say go for it Kim I like the idea I just don't know if this is the right location, might just be the right price but in the long term it might be a bad choice if it gets shut down by the city because of its location, might want to really think again, again Kim I love the idea just not its spot. And StuCazzo you should check out some of the locally owned resturants I spoke of, that you were somehow unaware of. Good luck Kim and Matt

I pretty much agree, but I tend to look at who doesn't pay their taxes on the WI DOR website. Why should I give any business my money that doesn't pay it's taxes and support their wrong doing? Thus the reason I will not go to Cafe Belwah (chef) or the Metro!

There's also the Metropolitan and the Bistro.

Metropolitan is a nice place. Also, there will be a new Seafood-Steak place going in to the strip mall by shopko soon.

other restaurants i frequent and enjoy. Milwaukee Grill & Hhffrrrggh's

By the way. For anyones information. Bobbleheads in not in the city.

I enjoy the speakeasy. It is a little pricey but the food is great. There's one.

Hey, wait a minute. Didn't the city turn down Jim Halbach because he wanted to buy Vine and Vat and make it into a bar. They said it was too close to a residentual district. It probably would have been ok'd if he had a volleyball court in the rear parking lot.

Sometimes I swear that the average Janesville resident, if presented a plate that includes decent seafood ,or, the horrors!, vegetables, they'd immediately become paralyzed with fear.

Since we started talking about restaurants, name one original, decent place to eat on a night out that isn't a national chain, or The Armory. The armory fairly recently pared there menu down. What do we have? I'm tired of having to drive all the way to Madison for a decent restaurant scene. In a city the size of ours, there should definitely be better choices. I'm so sick of either fake mexican, or burgers. I'd probably have a heart attack on the spot if, gasp, a good Thai place opened.

It has been years since I have gone to a bar but doesn't Three B's have a sand volleyball court still? I remember playing there a few years back.

Look every town has bars. Some bars are reputable establishments with good owners and good clientele. However, it's troublesome to me when the topic of bars seems to lead the news stories of the local paper on regular basis. Bars in trouble, bars closing down, bars opening up. A few drinks with friends from time to time is great. However, a bar should not be a way of life. That's a pathetic statement. If this city settles with that philosophy, then that's all it will ever be.

Volleyball at bars is not a new concept in this town. Like sickofyou said Bobbleheads has had it for a while and other bars like the watering hole and Boggtotters have been pursuing building courts on their sites as well and are just waiting for approval. It is a good idea if you ask me to get a few leagues going in Janesville, currently I play in a league at the Afton Pub and that is all fine and good but it is out of the way and a lot of people go all the way out there to play and drink, then they drive home. Plus people need to stop complaining about bars...face it in this town it is a way of life. If you don't agree with bars or the people in them, then stay home and quit whining. Not to mention Janesville needs all the business we can get. Good for these people for taking a chance, good luck to you!

Im so tired of hearing people whine about new businesses. Same thing when BWW opened. People crying about the chains coming to JVL and on and on. Well I highly doubt the city has turned away any non-chain type restaurants. Fact is they arent breaking down the doors to open an establishment here in JVL. Quit crying about it, its pathetic.

Sigh. Go ahead, Kim, pretend you are someone else. Who cares though, it's not important. What IS important is that people with a history of drug and alcohol abuse should no be licensed. It historically leads to problems.

Are you saying he's reformed? Then well, he needs to make a case for that fact to the tax paying public in the neighborhood. As for being just another bar; if it weren't for the volleyball, it'd be just another bar. One of far too many places to go and get your bud light lime drink on. Do something different. I'm always surprised that the people of Janesville always choose the lowest common denominator. There's as much skill in the planning department as their is in 4 year old kindergarten. Only when kids play with blocks, property values don't plummet.

Positives? It's a damn bar. There is no shortage of bars in town. There is a volley ball court right at Palmer Park hardly anyone uses. So the only way to play is if alcohol is attached? Nobody wants to organize a non bar related league? There is no shortage of unused park space to build more courts if there was demand outside of alcohol. Holly crap, it really is that bad.

I am looking forward to this place opening, there are some great bars in madison and beloit that have Volleyball leagues, unfortunately to drive that far to play is not always worth it.

Janesville needs something like this! It's really to bad that everyone seems to always have a bad thing to say in Janesville instead of being a little optimistic and taking the chance by looking for the positives.

Good luck with the new business, I'll be signing up a team to play.

Stucazzo-When you get done patting yourself on the back for your detective work, pull your head out, not Kim Brown. But you made me laugh with your "aha moment". Too funny.

Oh joy another bar. I'm glad city officials are right on top of economic development. Janesville... City of Parks, Bars, and Box Stores.

Digging up one's past is a clear indicator of what the future will bring. Second, third, fourth chances only serve to give the offender more reasons to continue with their criminal activity.

Just curious, but as far as i know, many bars are near residential neighborhoods, aren't they? (Club 709, Watering Hole, Bad Brad's, etc.) why is this one any different? Also, all those who love to be Matlock and dig up people's past, doesn't a person deserve a second chance? I know there are things in my past I am not proud of, but that is not a reflection of who I am now. Just an Opinion.
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Cheers!

To all of you that are wagging fingers,tsk tsk-ing, and nay saying... why don't you lease the property yourself and see what others have to say about what "YOU" think should go there. I support Kim 100%

Bobble Heads on 51 in Janesville has volleyball and has for awhile

Volleyball would be a good idea. The patrons would use up the calories they consume from the alcohol..

My condolences to the neighbors. Unfortunately, a nearby bar will likely decrease your property values.

I wonder if people would be happy with a nice, quiet Itallian restaurant (a decent restaurant that isn't a big box chain)instead? Where diners can get soused on wine and drive through the same neighborhood?

Hmmmm. just wonder'n....

I agree with you, Annie. I don't know what the City Plan Commission was thinking when they put it forward. The drivers who have been drinking are given a green light to drive through a residential area to visit an establishment placed there for economic reasons by the Commission but the Good Humor man can't drive the same street and sell ice cream. Sounds like a decision right out of Washington D.C.'s playbook

Bottom line is that I have serious questions about the safe operation of such a place in a residential neighborhood. Given that there is a factual issue of substance abuse,by the operator, this concerns me greatly. Liquor licenses/operator licenses are issued with a certain amount of public trust and responsibility.

Yeah, since I'm all for transparency, Howya doin' Kim Brown (Browntown) Of course you are, well, for your own business idea. I would expect nothing less. Now, how about those "good" jobs in this terrible economy. Do you offer your employee's health insurance? I doubt it.

I'm looking forward to StuCazzo turning the place into "something that Janesville can be proud of" if it turns out that it doesn't fit DeWitt's "business plan."

let me guess, this venue will also feature the fabulous joy that is Country Music. Yawn.

How about being creative with that space and doing something that Janesville can be proud of? Yay, another miller/bud light beer bar with big screen tv's and ton of Nascar/packer jackets in the crowd.

Browntown, My concern is with the location, and the operator, not the concept. I firmly believe that people with a history of alcohol AND drug abuse aren't the best people in the world to run bars. And seriously, how many Sports Bars do we freakin' have already? How about a decent restaurant that isn't a big box chain? And don't give me that crap about jobs. Yeah, a handful of part-time, low-wage, no-benefit jobs. That's what Janesville needs for sure.

Stucazzo-I'll take more jobs in an economy where there are no jobs to be found. Also, it will be nice that people here don't have to drive out of town to be on a volleyball league. I'm glad negative, close minded people like you aren't making decisions for the city of Janesville.

The concept is a good idea.......just not the location. It would be too close to a residential area and ruin the quiet neighborhood. It will be a bar. People are not going to be quiet playing volleyball. So, I'm not sure why people think there won't be a lot of noise. There will be music and that building is not so soundproof as to stifle the loudness from the music. Again, the idea is good but please find another location.

I think this bar is a bad idea. The location, with intersecting streets and an uncontrolled intersection is unsafe as it is. Let's add alcohol to the mix. Also, the operator, Mr. DeWitt, has convictions for OWI and Possession of Drugs. That's what we need; A licensed operator, who is responsible for deciding when customers have had enough, who himself has a history of drug and alcohol abuse. It's akin to licensing a day care provider who has a history of being a pedophile.

Is the plan commission so desperate for business development that they ignore safety complaints? Who cares about Milwaukee. This is Janesville, and I enjoy our safe, community. Just what we need; another sports bar. Only this time, it's dangerous.

This De Witt fellow is probably related to the two De Witt brothers currently trying to open a bar in Vernon County, WI. Between the two of them they have a total of 46 offenses on the courts web site. This guy has his share as well. Maybe the City of Janesville, as well as Vernon County, ought to look at these prospective bar owners just a little closer? JMO

its true OnWisconsin. Janesville has been behind times for a long time. I grew up in Green Bay and many bars had volleyball courts both indoor and outdoor. They even had indoor rugby on the sand courts and flag football. Its a lot of fun.

Did i read this article right? There are no bars in Janesville that have v-ball courts? There are a few in Beloit and they are very popular and fun!

I like the concept -- a little like the North Beach Club in Chicago, which I've been to -- and I appreciate the innovation. I hope that they can do it despite the 9pm closing, because existing neighbors don't need to be subjected to a new raucous source of noise any later than that.

This is good news. A business will be filling a vacant building, I believe the VB court is a new concept for the area, and I look forward to watching Favre get sacked on the big screen once they open!