Pennsylvania Hotel Fighting Loss of Liquor License and Hotel Closure

City officials are seeking to shut down a hotel in Lancaster, Pennsylvania, and have temporarily halted all alcohol sales on the premises. The operators of the hotel and nightclub located in the hotel oppose the closing and are also fighting to maintain an active liquor license.

The mayor and other city officials cite code violations, numerous police calls and tax nonpayment as reasons to close the hotel. The hotel's general manager believes the city discriminates against the operators of the hotel because of their race. He also maintains that the city wants the property so it can develop it for its own financial gain.

The Pennsylvania Liquor Control Board claims that the nightclub may lose its liquor license at a future hearing due to such reasons as:

• A purchase of "malt or brewed beverages" with a bad check
• Multiple disturbances in and around the bar during the last two years
• Liquor sales to underage individuals

The manager maintains that many of the alleged disturbances occur around, rather than in, the building. For instance, the police responded to a call regarding a drunken homeless man near the hotel and attributed the problem to the hotel although the man had purchased and consumed the alcohol elsewhere.

The hotel operators are mounting a legal defense to the city's petition to close the hotel and are hoping to maintain an active liquor license which is essential to running a successful nightclub.

Source: Lancaster New Era, "Officials look to shutter Lancaster city hotel," August 20, 2012.

Our law firm handles liquor licensing matters for Pennsylvania businesses including liquor license violation defense.