Liquor License App. (Knutsons)1.1
1010 FIRST STREET SOUTH HOPKINS, MINNESOTA 55343 612/935-8474
October 1, 1982
CITY OF HOPKINS
TO: The Honorable City Council and City Manager
FRQM: Commander Pratt, Police Department
SUBJECT: Off -Sale Liquor License Application Kotra, Inc./Jun E. Cha doing business
as Knutson's Liquor Store
'Location:
History;
812 West Excelsior Blvd., with owner listed as Yong (Wayne) S. Cho, 1.08-7th
Avenue South, Hopkins, an a Contract For Deed with Paul Stannard. Estimated
'market value. $89,3010 obtained from City of Hopkins records.
Mr. Cho held a City of Hopkins off-sale liquor license at Knutson Liquor
from late 1979 until October 1981. Cam. October 23, 1981, Hopkins police
arrested a juvenile for possession of liquor as he walked out of Knutson's
Liquor. The two clerks involved were identified, and the case was sent to
Hopkins City Attorney's o ffice for reviewal for possible formal complaint.
Wayne Cho was the license holder at that time. About five days later, he
sold his business and gave up his liquor license. The new owner, James
Rigdon, obtained his off -sale liquor license and opened for business in
Nor 1981. It was for that reason that no license suspension proceedings
were initiated by the police dept against Wayne Cho, who at this point
obviously did not possess a liquor license. James Bigdcn, DBA Knutson Liquor,
had a violation on December 12, 1981, where a juvenile female was arrested
for possession of liquor as she left Knutson's Liquor store. The employee
pled guilty to Illegal Sale of Liquor to a Minor an February 17, 1982.
Hopkins City Council suspended license of Knutson Liquor for three days in
March- 1982. On July 29, 1982, Wayne Cho applied to City of Hopkins for an
off sale liquor license at Knutson Liquor, 812 West Excelsior. James Eigdcn
apparently was unable to net his financial obligaticns_t6 Wayne Cho, present
owner of building, for building and stock. at Knutson Liquor and lost property
by default. Five days later, on August 3, 1982, Wayne Cho withdrew his ap-
plication for off-sale liquor license. It is my opinion that this withdrawal
was made because in my preliminary investigation, I informed Wayne Cho that
I would be including in my recommendation to the City Council that the Octo-
ber 23, 1981 Illegal Sale to Minor had never been resolved and could not. be
ignored. On August 16, 1982, off -sale liquor application was made by Jun Eui
Cha,as Corporate Officer for Kotra, Inc., with offices at 108 7th Avenue
South Hopkins, Minnesota. Location of business is 812 West Excelsior, using
trade. name Knutson's Liquor Store. Investigation revealed that 108 7th
Avenue. South is the ham. of Wayne Cho, owner of building at 812 West Excelsior
and the brother --in -law of Jun Eui Cha. There appears to be a gentleman's
rental agreement involving building and stock merchandise. Mr. Cho informs
me that if license is granted, Mr. Wayne Cho will manage Knutson's Liquor
Store. Wayne Cho is not an officer as listed in Articles of Incorporation
for Kotra, Inc. Therefore, he technically is not legally associated with
Liquor Application for License.
Page 2
Off -Sale Liquor License Application
Kotra, Inc.
Investigation: Jun Eui Cha, dob 7 -13 -48
Born and raised in the area of Seoul, Korea. His family was involved in real estate
holdings and commercial properties in Korea. I am unable to verify this with documen-
tation but believe this information to be true. Minneapolis Police Department License
Inspection Division has been able to trace source of inane back to savings accounts
in Seoul, Korea, through various bank documents in California. Mr. Jun E. Cha entered.
the U.S. Army on January 19, 1976, in Chicago, Illinois. He was Honorably Discharged
January 18, 1980. During his army enlistment, he was granted U.S. Naturalization on
June 21, 1976. Mr. Jun E. Cha moved to Minneapolis, Minnesota, and on April 28, 1980,
purchased Dan's Drive -In Liquor Store, 2201 University Avenue Southeast, Minneapolis,
fran P.E.R. Distributors, Inc., for $62,000 cash with $15,000 Contract For Deed.
Articles of Incorporation indicate Jun E. Cha as officer and trade name of Jimmy Cha
Distributors, Inc. Jun E. Cha was arrested on October 30, 1980, by Minneapolis Police
for Illegal Sale of Beer to Under Age Person under City ordinance for incident that
occured at Dam's Drive -In Liquors. Mr. Cha appeared November 25, 1980. Guilty plea
was entered, $50.00 fine paid, and Judge sentenced dismissal of all charges if no same
or similar with erasure date of December 1, 1981. Consequently, no conviction in of-
ficial records after December 1, 1981 and no other arrests or convictions for Jun E. Cha
indicated through police computer intelligence network. Other than close inter family
business relations, I can not find any criminal activity or association.
Recommendation: I find no reason to deny liquor license to Mr. Jun E. Cha. He holds
one liquor license in Minneapolis, and state law only prohibits dual
licenses in one community. It would seem reasonable to place sane
conditions on the off -sale liquor license should it be granted to
Mr. Cha. If any illegal sale to minors should occur, such sale should
be considered either second or third violation, depending on the
Council's view of the two priors involving Cho Cha, respectively.
Respectfully submitted,
OVIDE L. LaBERGE
Supt. of Police