More than 116 arrests and citations have occurred in and outside Krobar bar on Lorain Road over the last year. (Photo by Larry Bennet)

Liquor license transfer for Krobar contested
By Jeff Gallatin
North Olmsted
Published Feb. 15, 2006

City officials believe the next steps taken to deal with the ongoing problems at the Krobar bar on Lorain Road will ultimately show how the issue has been resolved.

City council Feb. 7 unanimously approved objecting to the liquor license transfer from former owner Trimus LLC to Westlake resident Mark Hammond, meaning he will have to go to a formal hearing in Columbus before the Ohio Division of Liquor Control. In addition, city officials also had drawn up legislation which would regulate teen nights and dance hall activities in the city. Many of the more than 116 arrests and citations at Krobar took place on teen nights at the bar involving underage teenagers stemming from incidents involving underage drinking as well as disorderly conduct and drug related incidents both in the bar and in the parking lot.

Mayor Thomas O’Grady said both the hearing and getting the legislation underway are steps in the right direction but are not the final answer to resolving the problems.

“One of the realities of the situation is that there are many objections to liquor license transfers every year in the state of Ohio, but only a few will lose their license on a first objection,” O’Grady said. “At this point we’re hopeful that having the hearing set will be parts of a process which means Mr. Hammond will be able to get a better system in place over at the business which will make it better for the community and the patrons of the business. As a former teacher, a parent and public official, we simply can’t have what has been going on over there with the teenagers continue. Mr. Hammond has told both the police department as well as council and the administration that he is taking steps to improve the situation. We will work with him to try and ensure their success.”

Hammond said he has to decline comment currently on the advice of his attorneys. He previously has said he is instituting tighter age and security measures in the bar itself as well as in the parking lot outside the bar. He said he will cooperate with the city as well.

City police said for the second straight weekend, they only had one incident which involved underage drinking near the business. In this case, two Chagrin Falls teens were cited in a vehicle in the parking lot.

O’Grady said the city will be monitoring the situation.

“If there is a need after the first hearing is resolved and the problems persist, we can take additional steps within the community and with the state,” O’Grady said. He said a business is much more likely to lose a license if there is a second hearing or objection by the city which goes before state officials.

In addition, O’Grady said the teen night and dance hall legislation by council itself also will help curb additional problems for both the short and long-term in the community.

“We took a good look at different laws in an effort to deal with the problems on the teen level as well as trying to make sure we had legislation which would affect adults who are acting in a responsible manner,” O’Grady said. “The hours are set up differently for the teens so there is a curfew in place but there is time for the teens to leave the business and get home.”

Council members also believe the city actions are necessary.

“We took appropriate action,” said Ward 3 Councilwoman Nicole Dailey-Jones, whose ward includes the bar. “It’s s situation which was getting out of control and we needed to deal with it because you can’t have anybody acting the way some of the people were in that establishment, but particularly children.”

She said the double approach is necessary.

“Objecting to the liquor license transfer lets the bar and the state know that we have concerns and that the situation has to be brought under control,” Dailey-Jones said. “And if it continues to operate and still has problems, then we can file formal objections in October again when we have the opportunity. The legislation should help bring the teen night problems under control.”

Michael Gareau Jr., chairman of council’s zoning and development committee, said the city won’t let the problems continue long-term.

“It’s a situation where we can’t have that many city resources in the city police department committed to just one business every weekend,” Gareau said. “That situation has to be brought under control by the operators both inside the bar and out. Otherwise we will act appropriately.”

At-Large Councilman Paul Miller, who made a personal visit to the bar recently, said the actions are appropriate, noting the large amount of problems has caused community concerns.

Ward 1 Councilman Dan Ryan, a former city prosecutor, urged council and law enforcement to file appropriate sanctions and maintain vigilance.