Four Maple Grove Businesses to Receive Penalties for Liquor License Violations

Four Maple Grove businesses were brought before the Maple Grove City Council recently for liquor license violations.

According Nov. 19 city council meeting memo, the Maple Grove Police Department conducted alcohol compliance checks on Oct. 18, 2012, and “alcohol was served to a minor undercover/decoy” at El Rodeo Mexican Restaurant, 3D Liquors and Granite City Food and Brewery and Hilton Garden Inn Maple Grove.

Representatives from El Rodeo Mexican Restaurant, 3D Liquors and Granite City Food and Brewery spoke before the city council Nov. 19, most describing the circumstances surrounding the violation, offering apologies and actions taking place to prevent future occurrences. All three businesses, according to City Administrator Al Madsen, waived their right to a hearing.

A fourth business, Hilton Garden Inn Maple Grove, was also brought before the council for an alleged liquor violation. The business contested the violation and requested an administrative hearing on the matter, which was heard later in the Nov. 19 meeting. After hearing testimony and viewing video, the council decided unanimously the Hilton Garden Inn Maple Grove had a liquor sale violation and directed the city attorney to prepare findings of fact for a future meeting.

The city council voted to impose a $2,000 civil penalty and ten-day liquor license suspension on El Rodeo Mexican Restaurant. It is the third violation in the last five years.  The council voted to impose a $2,000 fine and two-day liquor license suspension to Granite City Food and Brewery and Hilton Garden Inn Maple Grove. The council voted to impose a $2,000 fine to 3D Liquor.

The actual fines and suspensions are to be put to a final vote by the Maple Grove City Council at a future meeting after the city staff prepares the findings of fact and conclusions.

A full copy of the Nov. 19 Maple Grove City Council agenda and supporting documents can be found here.

“Recent results from alcohol compliance checks conducted in Maple Grove show that approximately 93 percent of alcohol retailers refused the sale of alcohol to someone under the age of 21,” the Maple Grove Police Department said a Nov. 26 press release.

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