Bars get hammered by city

By Stephanie Gandsey

Six local establishments received penalties Monday afternoon for violating liquor laws.

Stadium Club, 1311 W. Lincoln Highway, was charged with allowing minors in the bar and also for serving only alcohol for a two-week period while the kitchen was closed.

City Attorney Margo Ely suggested a suspension period of 30 days. The penalty still is under advisement by Mayor and Liquor Commissioner Greg Sparrow.

Since Stadium Club has a Class E liquor license, its sales are supposed to include 60 percent food and 40 percent alcohol.

Ely pointed out that this was Stadium Club’s second offense in a year.

“As a result, what is observed randomly actually occurs regularly,” Ely said.

Sparrow said he will make the decision after talking to advisers, but warned that this was a serious offense.

“If it happens again, we’re talking possible revocation, which means no liquor license for a year,” Sparrow said.

The Barn, 1215 Blackhawk Ave., was charged with serving minors and serving alcohol in a non-bar area.

The establishment will pay $1,000 and have a 4-day liquor license suspension, in addition to implementing a wristband process and a new camera security system.

“We will be monitoring The Barn closely,” Police Chief Bill Feithen said.

Andy’s Lounge, 317 E. Lincoln Highway, Lord Stanley’s, 156 E. Lincoln Highway, DeKalb Liquor Mart, 1353 E. Dresser Road, and Mardi Gras Lanes, 1730 Sycamore Road all received a $500 fine, which needs to be paid in 30 days, and are required to put up a sign that says anyone who looks under the age of 25 will be carded.

Robert Goering, representing Andy’s Lounge, said the establishment will use a new style of checking identification. First, a male employee will check the ID to make sure the same person is in the picture and that it’s valid, then a female employee will run the ID through a scanner.

Goering believes that by having a male and female employee check IDs, underage people will have a harder time getting in.

“The ID will be checked twice,” Goering said. “It takes away a person thinking below the belt.”

The scanner will be able to verify a record and store information. It also will provide video surveillance.

“I think they will help as long as the technology is there and as long as management supervised it well,” Feithen said.