Action last night will allow a controversial Iowa City tavern to re-open soon, under new management. Iowa City leaders okayed a liquor license and a dance permit for 27-year-old George Etre who’s now finalizing plans to buy Etcetera. The downtown bar should be his, Etre says, by July 8th. It closed in early June and he hopes to reopen the place as soon as possible. Back in April, the bar was the scene of a flash fire that injured nine people, two of whom filed suit. A bartender had apparently poured alcohol into the bar trough and set it ablaze. The former manager was charged with reckless use of fire, among other charges.
