Saturday night the Ohio Investigative Unit (OIU) cited six establishments around the state for violating Ohio Department of Health (ODH) COVID orders.
Citation cases will now go before the Ohio Liquor Control Commission – potential penalties include fine, temporary closure, liquor permit suspension and/or revocation.
A press release stated all of the following:
Green Rock Reserve LLC., known as Corner Bar, Parma Heights, received a citation for improper conduct – disorderly activity. Agents arrived at 7:25 p.m. and observed a live band with approximately 150 patrons inside the establishment. Many of the staff and patrons were not wearing facial coverings. No physical barriers were in place in the seating area or the bar area where every seat was occupied and patrons stood closely behind each other waiting to order. Patrons were permitted to stand and walk freely about the premises while consuming alcoholic beverages.
Sneaky Petes LLC., Toledo, received a citation for improper conduct – disorderly activity. Agents arrived at the establishment at 8:50 p.m. and observed approximately 90 patrons inside with no social distancing measures in place. Every seat in the establishment was occupied and approximately 50 patrons were observed standing while consuming alcohol. Most patrons were not wearing facial coverings. The liquor permit received a warning from agents on December 26.
Floyd Jones LLC., Operating as Republix Cocktail Lounge, Euclid, received a citation for improper conduct – disorderly activity. Agents arrived at 9:05 p.m. and observed patrons closely congregated throughout the establishment. Patrons occupied nearly every seat at the bar and the nearby tables with no social distancing or physical barriers in place. Patrons were also permitted to stand and walk freely throughout the establishment while consuming alcoholic beverages.
BLICENCE 1 Inc., Operating as B Stone Bar & Grill, Euclid, received a citation for improper conduct – disorderly activity. Agents entered the establishment at 9:20 p.m. and observed some measures and physical barriers in place. However, a large number of patrons were permitted to closely congregate near the bar. Nearly every seat was occupied with several patrons standing behind one another, waiting to approach the bar. Patrons were closely congregated and were permitted to stand and walk freely throughout the establishment while consuming alcoholic beverages. The liquor permit was previously cited on October 17 for after-hours consumption – Rule 80.
Brooklands Bar LLC., Akron, received a citation for improper conduct – disorderly activity. Agents arrived at the establishment at 10:40 p.m. and found the location to be operating. Nine patrons were inside congregating and consuming alcohol.
Cebar Inc., Cebar’s Euclid Tavern, Euclid, received a citation for improper conduct – disorderly activity. Agents arrived at 11 p.m. and found approximately a dozen patrons possessing and consuming alcoholic beverages.
The above cases will go before the Ohio Liquor Control Commission for potential penalties, including fines and/or the suspension or revocation of liquor permits.
The Ohio Investigative Unit is made up of fully-sworn, plainclothes peace officers responsible for enforcing Ohio’s alcohol, tobacco, and food stamp fraud laws. Agents conduct compliance checks to ensure the liquor permit premises are compliant with the Ohio Liquor Control Act. Agents also act on complaints of illegal activity on liquor permit premises. In addition to providing the safety checks associated with the COVID-19 directives, OIU agents continue to perform their normal compliance checks to ensure the liquor permit premises are complying with the Ohio Liquor Control Act.
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Jack Windsor is Managing Editor at The Ohio Star. Windsor is also an independent investigative reporter. Follow Jack on Twitter. Email tips or book Jack to speak at your event at [email protected].
Photo “Sneaky Pete’s” by Sneaky Pete’s.
