The State College bar owner scheduled to appear today before the Pennsylvania Bureau of Liquor Control Enforcement for "happy hour violations" has reached a plea bargain agreement with the bureau.
Sammark Inc., the State College-based group that co-owns Tony's Big Easy, 129 S. Pugh St., received a citation this summer for three separate incidents that allegedly occurred in February at the location, which also includes Candy Bar and Lounge and Lulu's Nightspot, formerly known as Club Love.
Dennis Smolko, enforcement supervisor with the Pennsylvania Police and Bureau of Liquor Enforcement, said the hearing was waived and a plea bargain was accepted. He said a deal was reached between the prosecution and the defense.
Pat Moyer, legal assistant in the office of the liquor control board administrative law judge, said the judge would decide to either accept or reject the plea bargain by Friday, and until then no details could be disclosed.
Smolko said the investigation of Tony's Big Easy began after the stabbing of Penn State senior Michael Donahue, who died of a puncture wound to the heart on Feb. 17.
The first of the three charges stated that on Feb. 23, Feb. 25 and March 16, the establishment distributed alcohol at a discounted price for a period longer than two hours, according to the citation Sammark Inc., received.
The citation also said an unlimited number of drinks were sold at a fixed price, which violates Liquor Control Board regulations. According to the citation, unlimited bottled beer and mixed drinks were served for the set price of $1 on Feb. 23 and unlimited draft beer, bottled beer and liquor were served for the price of $1 on Feb. 25.
Sammark Inc., was also cited for allegedly allowing three female minors and two male minors to frequent the premise without supervision on March 1.
The Liquor Control Board said in April that it was investigating the nightclub, and Club Love bartender Jeffrey Jennings testified in the Centre County Courthouse that there was an open bar special the night Donahue was stabbed. Holding open bar specials is prohibited, according to the Pennsylvania Liquor Control Board, which requires "the serving of unlimited or indefinite amounts of alcohol for a set price" be forbidden.
