Cary bar facing liquor license violations

A Cary bar was expected to defend itself Tuesday night against allegations that it violated two parts of the village’s liquor code.

Coleman’s in the Park is accused of allowing its patrons to consume alcoholic beverages beyond midnight and of playing loud music from its deck.

Village President Tom Kierna, also the village’s liquor commissioner, is expected to give his ruling at the end of the week.

“I’m disappointed in the violations but we’ll hear the testimony of the business and we’ll review the facts and based on the facts and the testimony I’ll render a decision and that’s it,” Kierna said before the hearing.

A representative of the bar could not be reached for comment before the meeting.

A police report says that on June 22, officers parked across the street from the bar and saw patrons drinking alcohol on the outdoor patio until 1:30 a.m. Moreover, loud music was played until 1:15 a.m., reports said.

The surveillance continued the next evening at 10 p.m.

During that observation, other officers were called to the bar at 11:04 a.m. for noise complaints. An officer responded to the bar, told the manager to turn off the outdoor music and shut down the bar’s sand volleyball court for the night. Reports said 10 people had been playing volleyball and that the players brought their drinks out to the area surrounding the outdoor court.

Reports also said the music was louder than the volleyball players.

Later on, police observed several people drinking on the outside patio until nearly 1:45 a.m.

While most patrons left the business just before 2 a.m., a table of four remained outside until 2:15 a.m. Their drinks had been taken from them at 2 a.m.

“I’m concerned when businesses have ordinance violations and I’m more concerned when I see them happen repeatedly over the course of our observation,” Kierna said. “And that’s concerning and we need to address those issues so (they) can be a respectful, coexisting business within the village of Cary.”

To the best of Kierna’s knowledge, Coleman’s hasn’t had these types of issues before and has never had to appear before the liquor commission.

Coleman’s in the Park could face a fine, a liquor license suspension or an outright license revocation.

Kierna would not comment on the likelihood of any outcome.