Tiffany Fabiani, left, talks to women at a wine stroll one-and-a-half years ago inside the old Bank of America Building where she and her husband planned to open Whiskey Barrel 707, an upscale whiskey bar. The couple are still trying to get it opened after months of just two people’s opposition. Photo by Debra Dingman

DIXON, CA (MPG) - According to a local Dixon history expert, there were 14 bars on two blocks of downtown at one time. Tiffany Fabiani and Ed Renger just got another victory for adding their one whiskey bar to the seven downtown businesses that serve alcohol.

“The administrative judge issued a ‘recommended determination’ but he does not make the ultimate decisions,” explained Fabiani, who with husband Renger are still hopeful to open Whiskey Barrel 707 in the former Bank of America building. “He makes a recommendation back to the ABC Director (an appointed official by the governor.) He’s recommending we are granted our approval (a license) based on conditions no different from a permit from the City,” she said.

“It’s a small win for us. They then have another 100 days to issue a final ruling. After that, Ginger and the church have a hundred days to respond,” she added. So the wait continues.

Last spring after an April City Council meeting, it was reported that the City Council had already twice agreed with the City Planning Commission’s approval, and twice denied appeals from downtown resident Ginger Emerson, leader of the Old Town Neighbors group, and Donna Brock of Calvary Church to stop husband and wife Tiffany Fabiani and Edward Renger’s business from opening. Whiskey Barrell 707, a proposed upscale pub and lounge offering live entertainment, had originally been scheduled for its grand opening in June of 2022 in downtown Dixon on North First Street.

After a full year of opposition by a handful of people led by the unofficial Old Town Neighbors advocate Emerson, discussions of parking, loitering, security, drunk driving, noise, elderly neighbors, crime, oversaturation of liquor licensing, pedestrians, school children, and more, have been addressed to the satisfaction of the City of Dixon.

At that April City Council meeting, Fabiani read to the audience:

“First and foremost, I want to commend all the city departments that have, too, endured exhaustive efforts preparing responses to overly broad and overreaching protests submitted by one Ginger Emerson in an effort to dredge up mud and evidence of wrongdoings by myself and City staff. We have been above board in all of our workings with the City and the State. We have not asked for favors, exceptions nor variances and have accepted and abided by all permitting requirements demanded of us.” She then asked everyone in the room who supported this project to stand and raise their hand. More than 50 people showed support, many of whom spoke at the podium, and several more spoke via online Zoom, including the owner of that building who encouraged approval.

Fabiani had been prepared with several exhibits to refute claims made by Emerson and the church, such as copies of official 2003 City Planning meeting minutes, when the Calvary Chapel Pastor was trying to get his own Conditional Use Permit approved where he stated on record that he would not interfere with future businesses downtown who apply for ABC licenses when then Downtown Dixon Business Association President Rob Salaber objected to the church in the center of downtown as it was not the best use of the building.

“Why didn’t (Pastor Brock) protest the other two businesses that literally, physically sit on both sides of the church building who also serve alcohol and host gatherings?” she asked. “Why didn’t he appeal to the City to not build an open, public live entertainment venue now known as Pardi Plaza that also sits less than 100 feet away from the church?”

Fabiani stated their entertainment is proposed for Friday and Saturday nights – times the church told ABC they don’t hold events or gatherings. Additionally, the Rengers held an informal sound test, and one could not hear anything coming out of their brick-walled building.

For the third time, the Councilmen and Mayor Steve Bird said they were for the project.