Elburn bar gives up liquor license forever in deal

Emma's Pub and Cantina in Elburn, where police say illegal Super Bowl gambling went on, won't be serving liquor anymore.

Pub owner Kathleen J. Alvarez of Elgin gave up her liquor license and will never get another in Elburn.

Mayor James Willey, who serves as liquor commissioner, approved an agreed order signed by the police chief and Alvarez, president of J&E Corp., which owns Emma's, 117 N. Main St. The order was made public Tuesday, the day Alvarez was scheduled to have a hearing before Willey.

Alvarez agreed to turn in her liquor license; to not allow any alcoholic beverages to be provided, sold or distributed at the pub; to not allow people to bring their own alcoholic beverages; and to never again apply for an Elburn liquor license.

She also is prohibited from being a partner, shareholder, officer, director, manager or employee of a business or agency that has or will have an Elburn liquor license.

"That's exactly what we wanted," Willey said.

Normally when a business is accused of violating liquor laws, punishment is graduated. A first-time offense might get a suspension of the liquor license for a day or two, for example, with longer suspensions for subsequent violations, up to revocation.

But allowing gambling is cause for losing the license immediately.

"(Business owners) know that when they apply," Willey said.

Alvarez's husband, Michael, faces felony criminal charges of syndicated gambling and keeping a gambling place, and misdemeanor charges of solicitation and gambling.

Elburn police say he ran a $60,000 squares game for the 2007 Super Bowl out of the tavern. Police say he was the manager of the pub. On her liquor license application, Kathleen Alvarez had indicated she would be the manager.

Michael Alvarez was convicted in the 1980s and 1990s of participating in syndicated gambling in DuPage County. Elburn liquor law prohibits felons from having liquor licenses or managing an establishment where liquor is served.

Calls to the Alvarezes' home and J&E's St. Charles restaurant, Miguel's on the Fox, were not returned. A number listed for Emma's is disconnected.

Michael Alvarez is due to appear in court at 9 a.m. May 21 in Kane County.