Local bar owner Tony Sapia will have another 30 days to plead his case to keep his doors open despite multiple incidents in the past few years, a judge ruled Thursday, a Pennsylvania Liquor Control Board (PLCB) official said.
Centre County Judge David Grine gave attorneys on both sides 30 days to submit written arguments to the court regarding the renewal of the liquor license issued to Sammark Inc., owner of Lulu's Nightspot, Tony's Big Easy and the Candy Bar and Lounge, all located at 129 1/2 S. Pugh Street, Francesca Chapman, deputy press secretary for the PLCB, said.
In July, Chapman said the PLCB voted against renewing Sammark's license, citing multiple incidents and violations on the premises -- including a murder in 2006 and a February fight that resulted in four arrests and a crowd of 200 surging into the street.
"Over the years the establishment had compiled a list of liquor code violations and also was repeatedly the scene of disturbances where the local police were called in," Chapman said in July.
Francis X. O'Brien, Sapia's lawyer, filed an appeal in July on behalf of Sapia. The bars can remain open while the appeal processes, Chapman said in July.
During 2005 and 2006, the bars received fines for liquor code violations, including using a loudspeaker that could be heard outside and selling drinks at a discounted price for a period before midnight exceeding two hours, Chapman said in July.
In February 2006, Penn State student Michael Donahue was stabbed to death inside Club Love, now known as Lulu's Nightspot, police said.
If Sammark loses the appeal, the liquor license will "effectively disappear," Chapman said in July.
Neither O'Brien nor Sapia could be reached for comment as of press time.
In January 2007, the license was up for renewal when the state Bureau of Licensing recommended not to renew because of the history of violations and criminal activity on the property, Chapman said in July.
