Varsity Tavern license suspended again
Mill Avenue bar Varsity Tavern has closed after a customer was injured by climbing over the railing of a second story balcony and landing on the pavement below on June 29.
The customer’s injuries include a broken elbow and hip, according to a Tempe police report.
On Tuesday morning, the business remained shuttered. A media statement from Reign Group, which owns both Varsity Tavern neighboring bar Rodeo Ranch, was posted on the door along with a notice of suspension of the property’s liquor license.
The Tempe Police Department completed an investigation into the incident and found no indicators of foul play, according to Tempe Police Department Detective Greg Bacon. The Arizona Department of Liquor Licenses and Control is still investigating the incident at the property.
The Arizona Republic has reached out to the owner of Varsity Tavern but has not yet received a comment.
The June 29 incident
Around 1:30 a.m. June 29 Tempe police officers saw a man lying face down on the bricks under the balcony, according to a police report. The building is located on the southeastern corner of Fifth Street and Mill Avenue.
A witness on the balcony told police he heard the man ask his girlfriend, “Something along the lines of ‘Do you think I can make it,’ ” while looking at the railing. The report states “it was at this point that (he) jumped over the railing and fell to the ground.”
Video surveillance footage showed the main climb over the railing, hang on from the outside and then drop to the ground, the report states.
According to the license suspension order, the patron who climbed over the balcony “was displaying signs of obvious intoxication” and climbed over the railing “over a period of time that would have allowed intervention by Varsity Tavern’s employees.”
The suspension order states the patron fell, while Varsity Tavern’s media statement says the person jumped. The Tempe police report uses both “fell” and “jumped” in the description of the incident.
What this means for Varsity
Varsity Tavern’s liquor license was summarily suspended on July 2. The suspension was a result of both the June 29 incident and instances of serving alcohol to customers not of legal drinking age that date back to June 10.
In December 2018, Varsity Tavern resolved four cases involving underage drinking and overconsumption. The cases resulted in a $15,500 penalty and a temporary license suspension, according to the liquor license suspension order.
Summary suspensions such as Varsity Tavern’s typically last until they are resolved after a hearing, according to Jeffery Trillo, the assistant director of the Licensing and Administration Division of the Arizona Department of Liquor Licenses and Control.
Varsity Tavern’s hearing is set for Aug. 20, though the business has appealed the suspension, Trillo wrote in an email to the Republic. The appeal is scheduled to be heard at the board’s August meeting.
Trillo wrote in an email the suspension only pertains to the business’s ability to sell alcohol and not other business operations.
“It is the Department’s understanding that Varsity Tavern has voluntarily ceased all operations,” Trillo wrote.
The business said in its statement it is cooperating with the police department and the Department of Liquor Licenses and Control’s investigations and will be temporarily closed until the investigations conclude.
“We look forward to reopening as soon as possible,” the statement concludes.
Varsity Tavern, located at 501 S. Mill Ave., is a sports bar and nightlife spot that opened in the space formerly occupied by Hooters in December 2018. The concept offered a menu inspired by James-Beard-award-winning chef Robert McGrath. The 10,000-square-foot space frequently hosted sports game watch parties and DJ sets.
The Tempe spot is the second location of Varsity Tavern, which was created by Dallas-based Reign Group and originally opened in Fort Worth, Texas.
The original location was accused of racial discrimination in March 2018 after a man said his friend, who is black, was denied entry for wearing Jordan sneakers but, after switching shoes with a white friend, his friend was allowed to the bar wearing the Jordan sneakers.