12.7.09
Bars To Go Dry If City Gets Its Way
By: Denise Yost - www. nbc4i.com
The City of Columbus will recommend non-renewal for 13 establishments to the state after officials said they are costing taxpayer dollars and not following safety and health guidelines.

“To have a license and operate in the city and state is a privilege and with it comes responsibility,“ said Councilman Andrew Ginther.

After crunching the numbers, the city said some aren’t living up to those expectations.

Among the list of 13 establishments: Sloopy’s on High Street.

Michael Bradshaw is co-owner of Sloopy’s and said any increase in police calls came when they stopped towing from their parking lot. He said people park then walk to other establishments only to come back and sometimes cause trouble. He said they work to be a good neighbor.

“We are the only one of the bars to have an off-duty officer on busy nights and signed the UAC Good Neighbor agreement to clean up our bar in the area,“ Bradshaw said.

Ginther said establishments need to be responsible even if the problems aren’t inside their bar. He said problems cost everyone.

“The amount of drain and police runs we are all paying, no small number of entities should take disproportionate amount of service,“ Ginther said.

The city works on recommendations based on investigation and complaints that often come from the people who live and work around the establishments in question. Area commissions help facilitate meetings before the situation reaches the current status.

Bradshaw said they will reinstitute towing and will continue to work hard to stay open and in compliance.

Without the permit, Bradshaw said, ‘it would crush us like any bar and restaurant in the area struggling to get by.“

The owner of Zeno’s, which is also on the list, said he is working with an attorney on the matter and will wait to comment.

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