Elyria council objects to liquor license renewal for Bistro at 645 Taylor Street after police, fire and building officials cite safety, capacity and code issues

Elyria City Council on Monday voted to object to the annual renewal of the liquor permit for the business known as the Bistro at 645 Taylor Street, citing repeated public-safety incidents, chronic overcrowding and building and health-code citations.

Law Director Deary told council that the Division of Liquor Control allows a municipal legislative body to object to renewals when premises do not conform to a municipality’s building, safety or health requirements. Elyria Police Chief Jim Welsh, Fire Chief Joseph De Pernesti (letter read into the record) and Chief Building Official David Farkas each described a pattern of incidents at the site.

"In the last 3 years since it's been open, we've responded to 91 calls at that location," Chief Welsh said, and added officers conducted “another 150 proactive patrols.” He told council the certified occupancy is 80 and that on one night the bar was found at “well over capacity” (Chief Welsh described a figure reported by the fire department of roughly 160). Welsh listed shootings, drug arrests, firearms possession, assaults, robberies and gang violence among incidents tied to the location and recommended council object to the liquor renewal.

Fire Chief Joseph De Pernesti, whose letter was read into the record, praised mutual-aid response and said Elyria and neighboring departments assisted at a mass-incident scene; Chief Pedesti also described one night when the Bistro was operating “well over capacity” and said overcrowding raises active-shooter concerns when large crowds are confined to a space designed for fewer people.

Chief Building Official David Farkas said he reviewed body-cam footage and reports tied to an overcrowding incident and had prepared a letter to the establishment advising it of the possibility of occupancy revocation. The building inspector noted the business last had been permitted as a restaurant and that the department had not seen recent evidence it was operating in that fashion.

Council considered and passed, under suspension of rules, a resolution objecting to permit 09804038-1 (the Bistro’s liquor permit). Law Director Deary and police and fire officials said that, in addition to the council resolution, the law office would prepare a written objection to the Division of Liquor Control that must be postmarked no later than Sept. 2 to meet renewal-cycles and notice periods.

Councilmember questions focused on whether other administrative tools or enforcement actions were available in the short term; Chief Welsh said increased patrols and covert operations are ongoing and that city departments — police, fire, health and building — have issued citations and coordinated enforcement. Councilmembers also asked whether the premises was operating as a bar rather than a restaurant; Welsh said that based on complaints the location now functions more as an after-hours bar, with late-evening and early-morning incidents driving most complaints.

By council action, the city will transmit an objection to the Division of Liquor Control for the Bistro’s annual permit renewal and the law department will prepare the required written statement to meet the Division’s deadline.