"Tequila Town" Restaurant Name Sparks Controversy within Esko Community

https://www.wdio.com/front-page/top-stories/tequila-town-to-change-sign-to-comply-with-local-government/

created by envymatters on 09/03/2025 at 15:16 UTC

39 upvotes, 16 top-level comments (showing 16)

"Co-owner Rafael Mata says the name “Tequila Town” refers not to the beverage, but rather the actual town of Tequila, located in the Mexican state of Jalisco. Town Board Supervisor Nathan Bartha however, is unconvinced."

Comments

Comment by 10Kfireants at 09/03/2025 at 17:24 UTC

62 upvotes, 1 direct replies

TL;DR I hate clickbait and It's not just the sign itself. A MN liquor license can't be given to any business within X feet of a school and Tequila Town is right across the street from Esko schools.

Certain exceptions have been made in the past (sometimes small towns just have everything in that close of proximity), but then there's caveats like, "No big signs advertising alcohol that uhhh... face a school." So the town doesn't love a Tequila Town sign facing the school, which it didn't even care about before *except* now that the business would like to obtain a liquor license.

Comment by dresseme at 09/03/2025 at 15:27 UTC

142 upvotes, 0 direct replies

There are so many worse things going on in the world than kids learning the existence of the word “tequila”. Puritanical bullshit at its finest.

Comment by Minnesotamad12 at 09/03/2025 at 15:27 UTC

33 upvotes, 0 direct replies

Personally I couldn’t care less

Comment by Conscious-Fact6392 at 09/03/2025 at 15:41 UTC

77 upvotes, 0 direct replies

Clutchin them pearls real hard

Comment by StrikeBR at 09/03/2025 at 15:57 UTC

24 upvotes, 0 direct replies

Controversy? Go get a hobby

Comment by bremergorst at 09/03/2025 at 18:13 UTC

7 upvotes, 0 direct replies

gif [IMG]

Comment by kgrams224 at 09/03/2025 at 19:47 UTC

6 upvotes, 2 direct replies

Pete Radosevich owns the building and is leasing this restaurant to the restauranteurs. Being a lawyer shouldn’t he have read the stipulations more closely and let the owners know?

Comment by Verity41 at 09/03/2025 at 16:52 UTC

2 upvotes, 0 direct replies

Unsurprising from someone named “Nathan”. Get a grip Nate, go have a margarita.

Comment by ShitShowcase at 09/03/2025 at 18:18 UTC

4 upvotes, 1 direct replies

Would it be a problem if it was called “Beer Town”?

Somehow, I have my doubts.

Comment by Serious-Strawberry80 at 09/03/2025 at 16:42 UTC

3 upvotes, 1 direct replies

Smells racist

Comment by skol_troll at 09/03/2025 at 16:21 UTC

2 upvotes, 0 direct replies

Or are they trying to convince us that there is a controversy in order to drum up free publicity?

Comment by jotsea2 at 10/03/2025 at 16:42 UTC

1 upvotes, 0 direct replies

The sign has already been changed.

Comment by SmokeByMoonlight at 10/03/2025 at 00:51 UTC

1 upvotes, 0 direct replies

If Esko didn’t seem like a depressing place to live before, it definitely does now. I always wondered what that odd little area between Proctor and Cloquet was all about. Turns out exactly what I would expect.

Comment by ThatKaleidoscope8736 at 10/03/2025 at 02:44 UTC

1 upvotes, 0 direct replies

Esko is weak

Comment by Vernacularshift at 09/03/2025 at 22:02 UTC

0 upvotes, 0 direct replies

Nathan Bartha sounds like a dork

Comment by drewski5252 at 10/03/2025 at 01:51 UTC

0 upvotes, 0 direct replies

As of last night they dropped the “La” on the building