St. Charles bars agree to fines for selling to minors

Seven St. Charles businesses caught selling alcohol to minors agreed to pay the city $1,000 each in fines and legal costs Tuesday at a liquor commission hearing.

An eighth establishment accused of the same offense, The Filling Station, 300 W. Main St., requested a hearing to dispute the allegation, said Mayor Don DeWitte, the city liquor commissioner.

Altogether, six of the eight businesses were cited in an undercover police operation Oct. 31 involving a 19-year-old civilian. They were: Charlie Fox's Di Fantastico, 3341 W. Main St.; Corfu Restaurant, 2520 E. Main St.; Dimitri's Mediterranean Grill, 3755 E. Main St.; El Puente, 112 E. Main St.; Hotel Baker, 100 W. Main St.; and 18 North, 18 N. Fourth St.

Ray's Evergreen Tavern, 1400 W. Main St., was cited in a similar operation in August, but owners were granted a hearing continuance because of a family emergency.

In another act of leniency, DeWitte said he didn't pursue a more severe penalty for Ray's Evergreen, even though it was the tavern's second offense this year.

The mayor decided to treat Ray's Evergreen as a first-time offender after he learned the civilian agent was recognized by a regular bar patron during the sting, creating a "false sense of security with the bartender," he said.

DeWitte did not say when The Filling Station was cited, but said owners are taking issue with unspecified circumstances surrounding the allegation. The hearing likely will be early next year.