Two popular Merced establishments cited for liquor violations
The Merced Police Department's weekly sweep of downtown bars netted two liquor license violations early Sunday morning, according to police.
Bishop's on the Square and O'Ryleigh's Bar & Grill were cited by Merced police for violating their liquor licenses by serving alcohol after hours, among other items, said Merced police spokesman Andre Matthews.
Both establishments could face fines, a suspension of their liquor license or worse, according to the California Department of Alcohol Beverage Control.
While these citations show recent violations, records show the citations issued Sunday weren't the first for the 100 restaurants in Merced allowed to sell liquor.
Matthews said the sweeps are done to make sure bars are operating according to the rules.
"We are planning to step up our enforcement as the population of students in our community increases and the number of cases of minors in possession increases," said Matthews of the citations.
The owner of Bishop's on the Square, Marshall Bishop, whose ABC license allows his restaurant to serve liquor, beer and wine in the restaurant until 10 p.m., was cited by Merced police Saturday night for serving liquor after hours, failing to display his license and having live music, none of which the restaurant was licensed for.
"Officers got word that Bishop's was being operated not as a restaurant, but as a night club," said Matthews.
Local business owners and citizens, said Matthews, notified police of the violations.
Bishop couldn't be reached for comment.
Police found a man drinking outside O'Ryleigh's Bar & Grill around 3 a.m. Sunday morning, an hour after the bar's license allows it to sell alcohol, said Matthews. Police then cited the bar for serving after hours, said Matthews.
The bar is owned by a limited liability corporation based in Modesto, according to the ABC.
Both establishments can continue operating under their license until or if the ABC decides to take disciplinary action, said Matthews.
Neither Bishop's nor O'Ryleigh's has any history of previous violations.
While the ABC has yet to be notified of the recent citations, its records show that Bishop's and O'Ryleigh's aren't alone when it comes to violating liquor law in Merced.
In 2009, according to the Merced police, there were 32 cases of minors in possession of alcohol in Merced. Two were related to retail establishments selling alcohol.
Of the 100 bars and restaurants allowed to serve liquor beer and wine in the city, six have a history of violating their license, according to the ABC.
Here is a complete list of those establishments and their violations:
La Cascada Night Club and Restaurant: sold to a minor in 2008. License suspended for 15 days. Fined $2,190.
Pine Cone Mongolian Grill sold to a minor in 2009. License suspended for 15 days.
R Bar: sold to a minor in 2009. License suspended for 10 days. Fined $3,000.
Branding Iron: sold to a minor in 2008. License suspended for 15 days. Fined $3,000.
Star Club: sold to a minor and minors who were allowed to stay in premises 2008. License suspended for 15 days. Fined $3,000.
Pizza Hut: sold to a minor in 2001. License suspended for 15 days. Fined $750.
Reporter Jonah Owen Lamb can be reached at (209) 385-2484 or jlamb@mercedsun-star.com.
This story was originally published April 13, 2010 at 12:10 AM with the headline "Two popular Merced establishments cited for liquor violations."