Pull to refresh
Logo
What Changed
Following Why Sign Up
Madison Common Council approves liquor license for State Street nightclub Cielo

Madison Common Council approves liquor license for State Street nightclub Cielo

Rule Changes Madison, WI local

The Common Council granted Cielo's Class B liquor license with conditions on October 6, closing the public hearing after the family-run club at 118 State St faced neighbor noise complaints.

October 6th, 2026: Public hearing on Cielo license

Overview

Updated Oct 18

Madison's Common Council voted October 6 to grant Cielo, the family-run nightclub at 118 State St, a new Class B liquor license with conditions, and closed the public hearing on the application. Alder Madison moved to grant with conditions; the motion passed by voice vote.

The license allows 318 people and an 80% alcohol, 20% food split, up from the club's 2023 license, which allowed 60% alcohol and 250 people. The club opened in September 2025 in a space vacant since 2017 and faced noise complaints earlier this year.

Why it matters

The vote decides whether Cielo can run with more people and a bigger alcohol share, and gives State Street neighbors, who have complained about noise, a formal say first.

Last Monday's email for Madison, WI

Sent Nov 9. It carried:

Get next Monday's: one short email a week. Free. Unsubscribe in one click.

Questions about this story

Free account needed to ask — your question is kept and asked for you right after sign-up. Answers are public.

No questions yet — be the first to ask.

Key Indicators

318
Estimated capacity (in/out)
Maximum patrons the license allows at 118 State St.
80%
Alcohol share of sales
Class B combination license requires 80% alcohol, 20% food.
20%
Food share of sales
Cielo plans to begin serving its food menu later in 2026.

Voices

Curated perspectives — historical figures and your fellow readers.

Sign up to generate historical perspectives on this story.

Log in Sign Up

People Involved

SM
Susan McKinney
Owner, Cielo and Sotto Night Club
Applied for Class B license for Cielo
SO
Sean Ortega
Co-owner, Cielo; agent on license application
Named as agent for Cielito LLC license application
CO
Carla Ortega
Co-owner, Cielo; music programmer
Curates house and techno programming at Cielo

Organizations Involved

Cielito LLC (dba Cielo)
Cielito LLC (dba Cielo)
Nightclub / limited liability company
Granted Class B liquor license with conditions by Common Council

Family-owned nightclub at 118 State St, Madison.
Madison Common Council
Madison Common Council
Municipal Legislative Body
Granted Cielo's license with conditions on October 6

Elected body that approves liquor licenses and sets alcohol policy.

Timeline

September 2025 October 2026

6 events Latest: October 6th, 2026 · 1 month ago
Tap a bar to jump to that date

  1. Public hearing on Cielo license

    Latest Hearing

    Council hears comment on the 80% alcohol, 318-capacity license.

  2. Council grants Cielo's liquor license with conditions

    Decision

    The Common Council voted to grant the Class B license with conditions and closed the public hearing. Alder Madison made the motion; it passed by voice vote.

  3. Common Council agenda published

    Procedural

    Agenda lists public hearing on Cielo's new Class B license.

  4. Cielo faces noise complaints

    Regulatory

    Neighbors complained about loud music; the club could lose its entertainment license.

  5. First coffee rave

    Event

    Cielo hosts daytime rave pairing DJs with espresso martinis.

  6. Cielo opens at 118 State St

    Opening

    Family nightclub opens in space vacant since 2017.

Scenarios

4

Council approves license but restricts entertainment hours

Deadline passed (Nov 10, 2026)

Discussed by: Madison alcohol license committee watchers

Noise complaints lead the council to attach conditions, such as earlier music cutoffs or soundproofing requirements, even as it grants the Class B license. This would address neighbor concerns while allowing the club to expand capacity.

Historical Context

One moment from history that rhymes with this story — and how it unfolded.

2017

Winedown closes at 118 State St (2017)

The bar Winedown closed in 2017, leaving the storefront at 118 State St empty. The building sat vacant on Madison's main downtown strip for eight years.

Then

The space stayed dark as other State Street bars changed hands.

Now

The vacancy ended September 2025 when Cielo opened.

Why this matters now

Cielo now seeks the liquor license for the same address, making the October 6 hearing the public's chance to weigh in on the building's next chapter.

Sources

(8)
+2
City of Madison Legistar Cap Times Madison Magazine / Channel 3000 Cielo In Business Madison Forward Lookout Citizen Portal City of Madison Legistar