Island bar's permit suspended

PUT-IN-BAY — The first of at least six bars cited recently for violating COVID-19 safety precautions for reopening was hit with a 20-day suspension of its liquor license at a hearing Wednesday. The Ohio Liquor Control Commission suspended the permit from Sept. 4 to Sept. 24 for Put in Bay Resorts LLC, doing business as Put in Bay Resort, 439 Loraine Ave. Put in Bay Resort was accused of "creating a condition that creates a risk of illness." Agents from the Ohio Investigative Unit cited it on June 27 for failing to enforce social distancing measures to prevent the spread of the coronavirus. Orders from the Liquor Control Commission were released Friday after it had hearings during the week. Put in Bay Resort has the right to appeal the commission's decision. Agents from the Ohio Investigative Unit have cited at least six bars in Put-in-Bay for COVID-19 safety violations. Put in Bay Resort was one of the first to face a hearing at the liquor commission. Dockets posted online for the Ohio Liquor Control Board show that a Tuesday hearing for Blum Bay LLC, doing business as Adventure Bay, 380 Main Street, Put-in-Bay, was rescheduled for Aug. 21. Citations also were issued to Hotel on the Park Inc., doing business as Park Hotel Gift Shop and Walk-In Coolers and Patios, 228 and 234 Delaware Ave; Niese Holdings Limited, doing business as Splash Swimup Pool and Tiki Bar, 225 Erie St.; Commodore Resorts, known as Mist Bar, Put-In-Bay, and Niese Brothers Associates, known as T&J's Smokehouse, Put-In-Bay. Possible punishments from the Ohio Liquor Control Commission include fines, liquor permit suspensions and liquor permit revocations. In a recent interview with the Sandusky Register, Michelle Thourot, agent-in-charge of the Ohio Investigative Unit, said the unit's agents only issue citations for the most blatant violations. She said the unit has checked 14,000 locations since March but only issued 90 citations to liquor permit holders.