DeKALB | On Aug. 24, as the stampede of bar patrons return to DeKalb, Molly’s and the adjacent Bottle Store will be closed for the day.

Mayor Frank Van Buer, acting as the liquor commissioner, suspended the license holders at 1022 W. Lincoln Highway for violations committed during the end-of-semester spring tent parties on May 11 and 12.

Just past midnight on May 11, deputy liquor commissioner Cory Warren discovered 446 patrons in the bar and in the beer garden. Molly’s capacity is 336 occupants.

When it rains, people gravitate inside from the beer garden, so the establishment has to account for that possibility, said Norma Guess, DeKalb city attorney.

The occupancy count did not include any of the people that were in the tent.

“Because the tent provides sufficient cover from the weather, it is not included in the occupancy count,” Guess said.

When officers returned the following evening, the bar once again was found to be over capacity with 570 occupants.

Molly’s was charging a progressive cover that grew from $5 to $20. This is often used as a tactic to decrease occupancy concerns.

When asked what Molly’s was doing to avoid the problem in the future, owner John Sanfillipo declined comment.

In addition to the suspension during a busy weekend, Van Buer fined Molly’s $2,250 for the two violations, just short of the $2,500 maximum penalty that could have been assessed. Molly’s also had to pay the court reporter and liquor commissioner attorney’s fees totalling $180.