Aramark and WKU are expecting to hear back about a liquor license “any day now,” Gary Meszaros, assistant vice president of business and auxiliary, said.

The license will be used at Topper Grill and Pub, which is located on the first floor of Garrett Conference Center. After being told the licensing request would be denied last year when it was originally filed, Aramark withdrew the request.

If the request had been denied, gaining approval for future projects concerning alcohol at WKU would be much more difficult to do, according to a previous Herald article.

Aramark applied for the license again last fall and is still awaiting a response from the Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control regarding approval.

This year, minor changes have been made to accommodate the license and Alcohol Beverage Control standards to increase the likelihood of the license approval.

The pub’s location on the first level of the building is part of the reason the license was not approved last spring when the pub opened. A separate elevator is needed so the alcohol can be kept separate from students, Meszaros said.

Obtaining a liquor license also depends on the restaurant’s ability to sell a certain ratio of food to alcohol. Since the pub would share a kitchen with the Garrett Food Court, the Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control was concerned about this ratio being met, according to a previous Herald article.

The Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control typically responds to requests in about 90 days, according to the article, which was published in September 2016.

“It is a long-term process, but so far everything looks good,” Meszaros said.

The idea of obtaining a liquor license stemmed from a SGA resolution made two years ago when renovations were made to the conference center. Some students expressed disappointment when it was announced the pub would not be serving alcohol as originally planned.

Reporter Rebekah Alvey can be reached at 270-745-6011 and [email protected].