ALAMOSA — A new restaurant will take up residence in vacant space that most recently housed a Greek restaurant on Main Street in Alamosa.

The Alamosa city council asked City Attorney Erich Schwiesow to draw up findings in favor of granting a hotel/restaurant liquor license to Soranai Srasom for the Tempura House, which will be located at 916 Main Street in Alamosa.

Srasom also owns the Thai Hut in downtown Alamosa. He presented 121 signatures in support of a liquor license for the Tempura House, which will feature Japanese fare and a sushi bar. Srasom said Tempura House would be open seven days a week 11 a.m. to 9 p.m.

The location for Tempura House has had a liquor license for past restaurants, and its adjoining neighbor, Emma’s, also has a liquor license.

Srasom said he did have one liquor license violation at the Thai Hut for staff serving an underage person, but he said he would not allow that mistake to happen again. He said staff are trained with the rule, “no ID, no service.”

Councilor Liz Hensley said she has personally witnessed that as a customer in the Thai Hut where customers have been asked for identification before being served alcoholic beverages.

Srasom personally also received a deferred sentence on a DWAI (driving while ability impaired) charge earlier this year.

Councilman David Broyles said granting this liquor license would increase the number of total liquor licenses in the city to 43, and he was concerned about adding to that number.

Three people spoke during the public hearing regarding the liquor license, with two speaking in favor and one against.

Ralph Symbleme said he has known Srasom for some time and believed the restaurant he would bring to this location “would be a major benefit to that end of downtown. I think it needs it.”

Darrel Cooper opposed the liquor license because he said with the number already in existence the city does not need another liquor license. He also had concerns that another restaurant would be able to be successful at that location, since several other restaurants have not succeeded there.

Ruthie Brown spoke in favor of the city granting the new license. She said she did not know the applicant but believed he deserved the right to try to make his business successful. He is making a substantial investment in his business, she said, and should not be denied the right to make his business thrive, she said.

“I would be thrilled to have something in that corner,” she added.

Alamosa Mayor Ty Coleman said he had enjoyed meals at the Thai Hut. “I applaud anyone who has the courage to open a restaurant business,” Coleman said. He said restaurant businesses are the toughest ones to make a go of it.

Hensley said she understood from her background in restaurants that sometimes customers want to have a drink with their meals, and it can hurt a restaurant business if it does not offer that opportunity. She added that she believed it would be unfair for this restaurant not to be granted a liquor license when the one next door has one.

Councilor Kristina Daniel said she viewed adding another restaurant liquor license differently than adding another retail liquor outlet.

Councilman Michael Carson agreed that the city has a sufficient number of alcohol establishments. He said, “I personally am not a fan of alcohol but I am a fan of business and moving our town forward.”