State College Borough Council member Peter Morris finds it "kind of strange that so many incidents" occur at the three downtown bars owned by Sammark, Inc.
This weekend Sammark found itself in the police log again, with four incidents on its property, 129 1/2 S. Pugh St, the home of Tony's Big Easy, Lulu's Nightspot and Candy Bar & Lounge.
The bars have come under scrutiny recently, as the Pennsylvania Liquor Control Board (PLCB) earlier this month voted against renewing Sammark's liquor license, citing liquor code violations and several instances in which police were forced to visit the bars. Still, Sammark should be given a chance to keep its liquor license, Morris said.
"I would be in favor of giving them every possible chance to run a place that meets the criteria and isn't outside the law," Morris said.
Borough council members recently spoke out about the bars' predicament, with most believing Sammark needs to improve its bars' atmospheres to continue operating.
A few years ago, the council filed a complaint with the PLCB saying the property was a nuisance bar, Council President Elizabeth Goreham said.
"As a resident of State College, we don't want any more of the problems it has caused," Goreham said Thursday. "We're on record about the problems that occurred there."
However, Goreham added the bars would be welcome if they can negotiate an agreement that is acceptable for the borough and the PLCB.
"All I know is that it is kind of a nuisance for the State College Police because they spend a lot of time on calls to it," Morris said. "I think there is a case for pulling the license, even though I hate to see it happen to them."
The bars have not been absent from violence and negative publicity recently, however.
This past weekend, the State College Police Department responded to four separate incidents at Lulu's Nightspot.
A woman will be charged with harassment after fighting with Lulu's staff at about 1 a.m. Saturday, and a man will be charged with underage drinking and disorderly conduct after police said he caused a disturbance while being refused entry to the bar at midnight Saturday.
Two incidents at about 1:47 a.m. yesterday were similar: a student's 19-year-old sister will face underage drinking and disorderly conduct charges after being accused of fighting with a female student in front of Lulu's, and a 23-year-old student will face disorderly conduct and harassment charges after police say he challenged Lulu's staff to a fight after he was asked to leave the bar for apparently fighting with a woman, police said.
State College Police Cpl. Greg Brauser said the problems at Lulu's may stem from the venue's large size.
In addition to compiling several liquor code violations, Lulu's, formerly known as Club Love, was the scene of the fatal stabbing of Penn State student Michael Donahue in 2006. The same section of Pugh Street also saw a few disorderly bar patrons swell to a 200-person crowd in February, according to Collegian archives.
Francis X. O'Brien, Sammark's attorney, did not return phone calls by press time yesterday.
"I think having appropriate standards for our late night entertainment is very important and needed in this town," council member Jim Rosenberger said.
Upholding the standards of nightlife venues is critical considering the large number of visitors and new residents coming to State College every year, Rosenberger said.
"I don't think we have a shortage of places to go," Rosenberger said.
If Sammark loses its appeal, Morris said he would be disappointed if the local music scene suffers because of a lack of venues. During the last two years Lulu's Nightspot has played host to musical performers such as The Hold Steady, Fiery Furnaces, and Cartel, according to Collegian archives.
Penn State spokesman Bill Mahon said he has concerns about the bars.
"I'm certainly concerned with any bar that has repeated problems involving fights, disruptions in the community and, of course, the tragic death of a Penn State student in terms of that bar," Mahon said. "We've got to trust that the state will look at whatever information it has carefully and make a decision that's in the best interest of the community."
