Arlington Heights businesses caught selling liquor to minors
Seventeen Arlington Heights businesses - including one operated by the park district - were caught selling alcohol to minors, despite getting a letter informing them of the sting a few weeks before it took place.
Owners of the businesses, which were mostly restaurants, will all appear before Village President Arlene Mulder this month or next to hear their consequences - which range from fines to a suspension of their liquor license.
"It's disappointing because one year we had no violations," said Mulder, who is also the village's liquor commissioner. "When people get caught, they are very apologetic. Very often they said they just didn't do the math correctly, but these are very costly violations."
Mulder grants liquor licenses to local businesses. She also has the power to revoke a license permanently or for several days.
In 2007, no business were caught in the police stings, which makes the 17 caught this year a bit of a surprise, said Village Prosecutor Ernest Blomquist.
"We don't want to be the Gestapo, but we have to balance what's best for the community and what's fair," Blomquist said.
Five businesses pleaded guilty last week and paid fines between $990 and $2,502. The total fines also include costs for attorneys and a court reporter.
They are Noodles & Company, 66 S. Arlington Heights Road; Applebee's Neighborhood Grill & Bar, 111 W. Algonquin Road; Mr. Beef & Pizza, 1960 N. Arlington Heights Road; Himawari Restaurant, 161 W. Wing St.; and the Arlington Lakes Golf Course, 1121 S. New Wilke Road.
In each case, an employee sold a beer to a 19-year-old without asking for identification, according to court documents.
The golf course will pay the largest fine and will lose its liquor license for two days because it's the park district's second offense in the past couple of years.
"It was a mistake," said Steve Scholten, executive director of the park district. "An employee just didn't card someone correctly."
The park district hasn't decided which two days it won't serve liquor, Scholten said.
Mulder doled out fines ranging from about $500 to $2,000 on Monday to Asian Bistro, 65 W. Golf Road; Madison Cafe, 902 W. Dundee Road; Chin's Restaurant 10 E. Miner St.; Gumrai Thai Restaurant, 170 N. Arlington Heights Road; La Chicanita Mexican Restaurant 202 N. Dunton Ave.; and Bapi Restaurant 1510 Hintz Road.
Chin's was given his highest fine at $2,000 because the restaurant also has a conviction from February 2007. Chin's also will lose its liquor license for Nov. 25 and 26, according to the village's legal department.
All 11 of the violations heard so far took place in August and each business received a letter before August saying the compliance checks were coming, Mulder said.
An additional six Arlington Heights businesses will appear before Mulder on Dec. 1. Those businesses are Big Shots Piano Lounge, 2 S. Vail Ave.; Brandridge Liquors, 1707 E. Central Road; Nari, 236 E. Golf Road; Cafe Romanza, 2324 E. Rand Road; Penang, 1720 W. Algonquin Road; and Yen Yen, 4226 Arlington Heights Road.