The Morning Journal (Lorain, OH)
Liquor commission denies permits
Bootlegger’s, Luna rulings upheld
Another state board has affirmed the denial of liquor permits for two Lorain bars that police claim are trouble spots downtown and in South Lorain.
The Ohio Liquor Control Commission upheld the denial of permits for Bootleggers Kennel Club LLC, which operates The Bootleggers Den, 538 Broadway, and for Velez Corp., which does business as Luna Del Mar, 2156 E. 28th St., South Lorain.
The commission affirmed the orders of the Ohio Division of Liquor Control, which on April 12 ruled the bars would not get their liquor permits renewed through state regulators.
The Liquor Control Commission rulings were brief.
“Upon consideration of the evidence and the arguments of the parties, the Commission finds the appeal not well taken and affirms the notice of the Division of Liquor Control,” said the rulings by commission Chairwoman Deborah Pryce, Vice Chairman James E. Carnes and member Mike Stinziano.
Both noted the owners of the bars may appeal to Franklin County Common Pleas Court within 21 days of May 3.
Bootleggers liquor permit holder Edmond McCall and Luna owner William Velez could not be reached by telephone for comment. The rulings did not include names of attorneys for the owners.
The ruling on Bootleggers could be good news for downtown
Lorain, said City Councilman Dennis Flores, whose Ward 2 includes Broadway.
“The clientele that was going in there wasn’t a good match for the downtown,” Flores said about Bootlegger’s Den.
Earlier this year, McCall said he would find another business to occupy the building.
Flores questioned whether that will work out.
“He’s going to have his hands tied, whatever he tries to do in that building,”
Flores said. “I don’t think it’s going to work out too well for them.”
The liquor permit decision could generate a renewed interest in the area by operators who want to bring new businesses to downtown Lorain, Flores said.
“I hope someone else can re-establish a connection with the entertainment district … and have a viable option for that property,” Flores said.
He referred to the entertainment district approved by Lorain City Council, which allows the city to add liquor licenses to the area around Broadway to attract possible new restaurants to the downtown area around Broadway.
In South Lorain, Ward 6 Councilman Angel Arroyo
Jr. said he, the victims of crime around the establishment, their families and the community are happy with the state ruling.
For 18 years, the bar has been a problem, with people getting hurt at that location under various names, Arroyo said.
“It is tough to go after a business in your community,” he said. “But it’s my responsibility to make sure all the residents in my ward are safe and all patrons that visit establishments in my ward are safe also.
“I hope that the ownership takes me up on my offer to sit down and figure a way out to help him out. But I will not support a liquor license until they can prove they have made changes to make this establishment a safer place.”