Four Maple Grove Businesses to Receive Penalties for Liquor License Violations

Article update Dec. 1, 2011: The Maple Grove City Council approved the findings of fact relating to the four liqour license violations at its Monday, Nov. 21 meeting.

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Four Maple Grove businesses were brought before the Maple Grove City Council Monday, Nov. 7, for liquor license violations.

According to a city memo relating to each business, the conducted alcohol compliance checks on Oct. 20, 2011, and “alcohol was served to a minor undercover/decoy.”

Although all four businesses—, , and —took the opportunity to speak before the Maple Grove City Council, none denied the allegations or requested a public hearing on the matter.

The actual fines and suspensions listed below are to be put to a final vote by the Maple Grove City Council at the Monday, Nov. 21, meeting after city staff prepares findings of fact and conclusions in support of the decisions of the Council.

Representatives from Buca di Beppo took more than a half-hour at the Nov. 7 meeting to tell the City Council about the changes they’ve implemented, including the termination of two employees, as a result of the incident. Unlike the other businesses before the Council that evening, it was a third liquor violation for BUCA di Beppo within a three-year period. Previous violations ocurred July 13, 2009, and Nov. 18, 2009, according to a city staff memo provided to the City Council.

“I stand here deeply remorseful that the steps we took after the second violation were not successful in preventing a third compliance check failure. We take this matter very seriously,” Buca Licensing Manager Matthew Rilley said.

In addition to training staff members, Riley said they have implemented a policy of carding all patrons and purchasing seven electronic identification scanners.  After talking about the changes they implemented, Buca representatives asked the Council to “consider the financial impact” on employees and the restaurant of implementing a 10-day liquor license suspension during the holiday season.

Councilmember Karen Jaeger briefly talked about the ordinance and how another business previously served their suspension during the holiday season.

“We don’t take this [liquor violations] lightly in Maple Grove, not at all,” she said.

Councilmember LeAnn Sargent commented the restaurant's representatives were trying to give the council a “guilt trip” about employees losing wages during the suspension.

“You are the ones failing the compliance, not the council,” she said.

“This is a very serious matter,” Sargent said. “I thought when you were in front of us in January 2010 you understood that.”

Mayor Mark Steffenson told Buca representatives he understands the impact of serving a liquor license violation during the holiday season, but thinks it needs to be served before the end of the year.

Following the discussion, the City Council unanimously decided to impose a $2,000 fine and 10-day liquor license suspension for Buca di Beppo, asking the suspension to start as close as possible to Nov. 22, 2011.

Other businesses before the council talked about what they have implemented, and their policies and efforts to prevent future alcohol compliance check failures.

Here’s a list of the businesses presented before the council for liquor license violations and how the council decided:

• Kyoto Sushi, located at 13751 Grove Drive. It was the first liquor violation for Kyoto Sushi, which opened for business Aug. 2011, according to a staff memo provided to the City Council. The Maple Grove City Council agreed to impose a civil penalty of $2,000 and two-day suspension.

• Cambria Suites, located 9655 Grove Circle North. It was the first liquor violation for Cambria Suites, according to a staff memo provided to the City Council. The Maple Grove City Council agreed to impose a civil penalty of $2,000 and two-day suspension.

• Wal-Mart Supercenter, 9451 Dunkirk Lane. It was the first liquor violation for Wal-Mart, according to a staff memo provided to the City Council. The Maple Grove City Council decided to impose civil penalty of $2,000 and two-day suspension.

A full copy of the Nov. 7 Maple Grove City Council agenda and supporting documents can be found here.