The Ohio Liquor Control Commission has suspended the liquor permit of Skipper's Bar & Grill, 22 W. Union St., for five days, an official at the Liquor Control Commission said.
The suspension resulted from unsanitary conditions, a filthy kitchen and inappropriate conditions for storing alcohol, said Mark Anderson, the executive director of the commission.
Joel Schectman, who owns Skipper's Bar & Grill and The Blue Gator, 63 N. Court St., could not be reached for comment.
Schectman could have avoided the suspension by paying a $500 fine, which the state issued Jan. 21 with a Feb. 14 deadline. A week after the deadline, the suspension went into effect.
The (punishment) is to suspend the permit
but give them the opportunity to avoid serving the suspension by paying the fine Anderson said -- which means Schectman can still pay the $500 and have his permit back immediately.
Anderson said some businesses, notably smaller liquor stores, opt to just stay closed for a few days.
Sometimes they don't (pay) on the basis they don't believe it is worth the amount of money to stay open
he said.
The Athens Police Department was notified via a letter that the suspension would begin yesterday at noon.
What I've normally seen is that businesses will get it worked out with the commission
said Lt. Dave Williams of the APD. It's not that big of a deal.
Skippers can stay open and serve food and non-alcoholic beverages during the suspension.
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Justin Thompson
