Since 2008, Main Street Bar and Grill, located at 517 N. Main St., was caught five times serving liquor to minors.

According to The Pantagraph, the city panel wants the bar to prove it has obeyed laws, which were enforced in September.

“The sanctions that we’re attempting to enforce are the result of a stipulation, which is an agreement between the bar owner, the city council and us, as to one sale of alcohol, which I believe took place in April of last year,” George Boyle, assistant corporation counsel for the City of Bloomington, said.

An order, available for public record, mentioned not only the sale to a minor in April 2012, which is a violation, but also an agreement of other activities to which the bar agreed to not violate.

“They agreed that they would not participate in, allow or encourage card games on the premises, including, but not limited to poker, Texas hold ’em, blackjack and some other things,” Boyle said.

In a list of agreements the bar has with the liquor commissioner, the commission needed to keep a close eye and found prior violations by Main Street Bar and Grill, Boyle explained.

“[The commission] gave [the licensee] a choice of the license being revoked, in other words, the liquor license would either be revoked or they could keep their license, provided they complied with [the sanctions] and conditions,” Boyle added.

The sanctions and conditions include paying a fine of $3,500 and sending of quarterly reports showing a breakdown of sales between alcohol and non-alcoholic sales from a licensed accountant, Boyle said. The commission is now looking into this breakdown. 
 

Cally Lindenmier/Photographer: Main Street Bar and Grill in downtown Bloomington has received its fifth offense for serving liquor to minors.

 Additionally, the bar is prohibited from having loud music after 10 p.m. and all the employees must receive basset training, which is training to serve alcohol lawfully, he added.

 The liquor license was also suspended for six days in November.

“If a liquor licensee is found to have violated a law, on each occasion that that occurs, the sanctions increase in severity,” Boyle said.

Closing down the bar is a possibility and an option open to the commission if the rules are not followed, Boyle explained.

“We’re keeping an eye out on the situation,” he added.