Seven McKean County establishments have been cited since the start of the pandemic for violating liquor license mandates related to the COVID-19 mitigation efforts.
Information on the citations was provided to The Era by the Pennsylvania State Police Bureau of Liquor Control Enforcement, Erie District Enforcement Office. McKean is one of seven counties in the Erie District.
The information from the bureau is from April 2020 through February 2021.
In March, Pennsylvania restaurants and bars were ordered to stop dine-in service, and since that time the mandates have been lightened or changed to reflect the severity of COVID-19 spread. At no point during this time have Pennsylvania’s liquor licensees been free of COVID-19-related mandates.
The Liquor Control Board issued citations to the following: The Willows, Tack’s Inn, Kenneth B. Marsh, JJS Saloon LLC, The New Keystone Restaurant, The City Line and Two Mile Inn.
In June, both the The Willows in Corydon Township and Tack’s Inn in Lafayette Township were cited for allegations of serving food and/or alcohol to be consumed on the premises in violation of a Liquor Control Board advisory notice issued due to the emergency declaration.
The Willows was cited for an incident on April 3, and Tack’s Inn for an incident on April 11.
The Liquor Control Board announced citations against Kenneth B. Marsh of Bradford City — Marsh’s Bar — during three different months.
In October, Marsh was cited for allegations that on Sept. 24 the establishment failed to require all customers to wear face masks, did not provide face masks for employees or require employees to wear masks, and served alcohol for on-premises consumption in a transaction that did not include a meal.
In January, Marsh was cited for allegations stemming from Dec. 18 including interfering with a liquor control enforcement officer in the performance of their duties, obstructing the administration of law or other governmental function, failing to provide face masks for employees or require employees to wear masks, and serving food and/or alcohol for on-premises consumption.
Marsh was cited for the third time in February for allegations from Dec. 31. That day, the establishment sold alcoholic beverages after its health permit or license was revoked on Dec. 28, failed to require all customers to wear face masks, did not provide face masks for employees or require employees to wear masks, allowed a patron to be seated at the bar, and served food and/or alcohol for on-premises consumption.
Notably, Marsh is facing criminal charges related to allegations that he brandished a gun Dec. 18 when talking to the liquor control enforcement officer. He has not been convicted of any criminal allegations, and the case is still pending. Marsh is scheduled to appear Thursday in McKean County Court on the allegations.
JJS Saloon and The New Keystone Restaurant, both in Bradford City, were cited in January for allegations that on Dec. 18 the establishments failed to require all customers to wear face masks, did not provide face masks for employees or require employees to wear masks, and served food and/or alcohol for on-premises consumption.
Both JJS and The New Keystone were cited again in February.
JJS’ license was revoked on Dec. 28, and the establishment sold alcoholic beverages on Dec. 31. Also on Dec. 31, the establishment failed to require customers to wear masks, failed to provide face masks for employees or require employees to wear masks, allowed a patron to sit at the bar, and served food and/or alcohol for on-premises consumption.
Meanwhile, on Dec. 31, The New Keystone permitted patrons to consume alcohol and/or food while not seated at booths and allowed the consumption of food and/or alcohol inside the premises.
The City Line was cited in February for allegations that on both Dec. 18 and 21, the establishment failed to provide face masks for employees or require employees to wear masks, served alcohol for on-premises consumption in a transaction that did not include a meal, allowed a patron to sit at the bar, and served food and/or alcohol for on-premises consumption. On Dec. 21, The City Line also did not require customers to wear masks.
In February, Two Mile Inn in Liberty Township was cited for several things that happened between November and February.
On Nov. 7 and Dec. 2, Two Mile Inn failed to require all customers to wear masks, failed to provide masks to employees or require employees to wear masks, served alcohol to be consumed on the premises in a transaction that did not include a meal, and allowed a patron to be seated at the bar.
On Dec. 29, Two Mile Inn allowed the consumption of food and/or alcohol on the premises and allowed a patron to be seated at the bar. On Jan. 8, the establishment did not require customers to wear masks, did not provide masks for employees or require employees to wear masks, and allowed a patron to be seated at the bar.
Finally, on Feb. 1, Two Mile Inn did not require customers to wear masks, did not provide masks for employees or require employees to wear masks, served alcohol to a patron in a transaction that did not include a meal, allowed a patron to be seated at the bar, and permitted patrons to consume alcohol and/or food while not seated at tables or booths.
According to the Liquor Control Board, the above charges against each establishment will be brought before an administrative law judge who can impose a fine of $50 to $5,000, suspend or revoke an establishment’s liquor license or require a licensee to undergo training to educate them on the requirements of being licensee. The actual sentence imposed depends on the severity of the charges an establishment faces.
It was unclear at press time if any of the above McKean County establishments have been penalized yet.
