On Friday Notal’s Too closed its doors to college students. The closing stems from two unresolved issues with the Liquor Control Commission, both of which concern the sale of alcohol to a minor.
According to Mark Anderson, executive director of the Liquor Control Commission, Too’s was found to have sold alcohol to an underage individual twice on Sept. 8, 2001.
For the first offense, the commission ordered Too’s to serve a 30-day suspension of its liquor license privileges, Anderson said. The bar appealed that decision to the Franklin County Common Pleas Court. That case is still pending, he said.
For the second offense of serving a minor, the commission ordered Too’s liquor license revoked, Anderson said. Too’s also appealed that decision.
Again, both parties concerned are awaiting a decision from the court, he said.
If the bar is found guilty of both offenses, the owner will lose his liquor license for one year and no business will be granted any liquor license in that location, Anderson said.
“Once the attorney general’s office gives us the go-ahead we issue a final order for them to close down,” said Anderson.
That “final order” has not been given because no word has come from the Attorney General’s Office.
The closing of Too’s last Friday was a decision made by the owner not the state, Anderson said.
The manager, Paul Herder, had no comment when asked about the progress of the appeals. He did say he plans to reopen once the court cases conclude.
Anderson said if Too’s is found guilty of the charges, the bar won’t be able to open for at least a year. However, it will be a few days before the decision is released to the public, he said.
Students are upset with the number of bars closing within the last few years. In fact, there are now only a handful of bars between 10th and 17th avenues.
“Power hour was the best two hours of my life,” said Jeff Bender, a senior in marketing, referring to a Too’s special offer every Saturday. Customers could buy anything for $1.
Another student, Scott Langford, is upset with the recent closings.
“With bars closing around campus, students are forced to drive rather than walk to other bars which are further away. This would seem to increase the possibility of drunk drivers,” said Langford, who is in the College of Pharmacy.
