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Richfield fines three restaurants after underage alcohol compliance checks
Summary
The council adopted separate resolutions suspending liquor licenses and imposing civil penalties on three establishments after Nov. 14, 2024 compliance checks found unlawful sales to underage buyers; two establishments admitted the violations in the hearing.
The Richfield City Council on Jan. 28 adopted resolutions imposing penalties on three licensed establishments after city-conducted alcohol compliance checks found sales to persons under 21.
City staff said compliance checks were conducted Nov. 14, 2024; 25 establishments were checked and three failed. The council applied the city's first-offense penalties under its enforcement guidelines: a five-day suspension of the license to sell alcohol, a $1,000 civil fine, a requirement to meet with the director of public safety with a written action plan, and mandatory manager alcohol-compliance training paid for by the establishment.
Council Member Hayford O'Leary read the staff summary and called each business forward. Representative(s) for Devani's Pizza and Hot Hoagies and for Myburger appeared at the hearing and admitted the violations. Joe Spencer, district manager for Myburger, told the council the company did not contest the finding: "No, we we don't have any contest. We've been [found] guilty on that," he said. Devani's representative also admitted the violation and accepted the penalties.
The third establishment, Joyce Pitaya Thai Restaurant LLC (Joyce Pataya), was contacted by staff and the record indicated staff had been in communication with the business and did not expect a contest; the council approved the resolution for that establishment in absentia.
City staff noted that two of the three failing establishments had prior violations more than a year earlier (Devani's failed on Dec. 17, 2022; Myburger failed Nov. 3, 2021) and were being treated as first offenses because the earlier incidents were outside the one-year look-back period used by the city.
Council members moved and seconded separate resolutions for each establishment. All three motions passed by voice vote.
Votes at a glance: resolutions to suspend licenses and impose civil penalties for Joyce Pitaya Thai Restaurant LLC (7545 Lindale Avenue South), Devani's Pizza and Hot Hoagies (address as listed in staff materials), and Myburger (6555 Lindale Avenue South) were moved, seconded and approved by the council.
The council noted that establishments may request a contested case hearing if they deny the allegations; in these cases two businesses admitted the violation and accepted the city's penalties, while the city indicated it would follow up with Joyce Pitaya to confirm acceptance and next steps.
