One year after the state decided not to renew Sammark Inc.'s liquor license, the company's three State College bars continue to operate although police say they violated the court agreement permitting them to stay open.
Pennsylvania State Police at Altoona reported June 25 that Sammark Inc. -- which owns Tony's Big Easy, Lulu's Nightspot and Candy Bar and Lounge, each located at 129 1/2 S. Pugh Street. -- violated liquor laws, and thus the court agreement, on seven different occasions between April 10 and May 24 of this year, said District Officer Sgt. Wayne A. Bush.
Undercover agents reported that employees sold alcoholic beverages to two visibly intoxicated men last April and May, according to court documents.
On July 9, 2008, the Pennsylvania Liquor Control Board (PLCB) decided not to renew the liquor license of Sammark.
After Sammark appealed the PLCB order, they then appealed Centre County Judge David Grine's Dec. 29 decision to sustain the PLCB ruling.
The appeals process has allowed Sammark's bars to continue oper-ating under terms of court agreement.
The requirements specified include mandatory patron identification checks and discounted drinks to end "no later than 9 p.m.," according to the agreement.
Liquor codes also prohibit selling alcoholic beverages to visibly intoxicated patrons, according to court documents.
Multiple calls to Sammark President Tony Sapia and his attorney Francis O'Brien were not returned.
State College Borough Council President Elizabeth Goreham said she's frustrated about the Sammark situation.
"It is a problem property," Goreham said. "The behavior is still over the line too frequently. They have violated the constraints."
The PLCB agreed with Goreham. PCLB Deputy Press Secretary Francesca Chapman said the bar "has amply demonstrated that it's the cause of community problems" and the Board's hoping to resolve the situation "sooner rather than later."
Bush said the undercover agents specifically went to the bars to see if they were following the terms of the agreement.
"My guys were looking for specifically whether they were complying with the order of the court," Bush said.
In 2005 Sammark faced fines when the Board charged them with selling drinks at discounted prices, among other things.
The State College Police Department reported fights in 2006, and Penn State student Michael Donahue was fatally stabbed at the property in February of that year.
