ICONN loses license
By JOSHUA BOURGEOIS
The Irish Connection, a South Bend club located at 525 North Hill St., surrendered its liquor license Wednesday to the Alcoholic Beverage Commission (ABC) due to a recent citation against the club.
The Indiana Excise Police charged The Irish Connection with "failure to maintain a high and fine reputation." The police issued a citation to the club because of a bar fight that led to five arrests in May and a 1998 raid that caught 95 underage drinkers in the club.
An agreement with the Irish Connection, the ABC and the city of South Bend permitted club owner Leon Townsend to surrender the liquor license in order to forego the permit "trial." The trial was scheduled for Sept. 21.
According to Townsend, he agreed with the settlement offered by the ABC because he knew that he would lose in trial.
"The prosecutor [Fred Bauer] gave us options, and he told us what would happen if we went to trial. This came rather suddenly. If their mind is made up, then why fight it," Townsend said.
Townsend compared the citation to a "disorderly conduct charge" and says that the fight that occurred in May "can be considered the death penalty to the bar." He says he does not understand the reason why the club would lose its liquor license for such a charge.
"There's been many other bars with worse situations and worse fights than ours. They haven't lost their licenses. Compared to those bars, we're the boy scouts," Townsend said.
Currently, the liquor license is in escrow, and Townsend hopes to sell the license soon. Townsend told the South Bend Tribune that "someone out there is always looking to buy a liquor license."
ABC Prosecutor Fred Bauer told the South Bend Tribune that "there are a finite number of permits available and no new ones are being issued for the city of South Bend."
Townsend believes that losing the license will hurt his business, but he is hopeful that the new alcohol-free Irish Connection will be popular with all ages.
"If people want to dance, they can come here. We are going to encourage people of all ages to participate in the non-alcoholic environment," Townsend said.
The new Irish Connection will have more pool tables, more dartboards, and more games. It will also add some new items to its menu. Townsend hopes that the club will continue providing live music from local bands.
"Bridget's turned into a coffee shop. We can offer an all ages place to dance. It will be the same place without the booze."
The non-alcoholic Irish Connection will be open for business beginning tonight.
All News Stories for Friday, September 3, 1999
