East Dundee bar fined $1,000 after customers stayed 2 minutes late

An East Dundee bar was fined $1,000 after customers were caught consuming alcohol two minutes after its designated closing time.

Richard Schuring, owner of River Lee's Pub at 6 E. Main St., pleaded guilty to the violation, which accuses the bar of allowing two patrons to remain in the establishment until 2:02 a.m. on Oct. 29. Village ordinances prohibit customers from being served or drinking alcohol, or even staying on the property, after 2 a.m.

River Lee's had not received a violation since 2011, when patrons stayed in the beer garden several minutes past closing time, Police Chief Terry Mee said. Owners were also fined $1,000 for that incident.

The bar's staff and management have fully cooperated with police regarding the recent violation, Mee said. Schuring and his daughter, Terri Schuring, appeared this week before the village's liquor control commission, which approved of the fine.

“We understand it was a mistake,” Village President Lael Miller told the Schurings. “You have a great place over there, and we want to see you be successful. But we've just got to make sure these things don't happen again.”

Though owners were not at River Lee's when the violation occurred, Terri Schuring said surveillance footage showed a veteran bartender having trouble with a credit card machine, while a new bartender was left to address the crowd at the end of the night. Both bartenders were reprimanded and taught to secure the bar before handling any other issues, she said.

“We were absolutely wrong,” Schuring said. “It has been addressed, and it was reiterated to every bartender there.”