ELYRIA — The operators of Mardi Gras Lounge are seeking their own liquor license, a move that would separate the establishment from the permit held by Dean Costa, the owner of Uncle Vic’s Nightclub.
Mardi Gras Lounge’s current liquor permit is linked with two other downtown Elyria bars — Uncle Vic’s and Benchwarmers Sports Bar.
Costa’s permit, which currently covers the operations of Uncle Vic’s, Mardi Gras and Benchwarmers Sports Bar, will be the subject of a public hearing 1 p.m. Oct. 5 at Elyria City Hall.
The hearing has been called because City Council contends Costa should not be allowed to renew the permit because of the problems the bar causes. During the hearing, the city and Costa will be able to present evidence and testimony arguing why the state agency should or should not renew the permit for the coming year.
Costa did not return a call for comment Wednesday.
According to the Department of Liquor Control, the request for a new permit just for Mardi Gras was received Sept. 6. Shane Loudy, who has operated Mardi Gras as a separate facility from Uncle Vic’s and Benchwarmers since February, previously has said he will do whatever is necessary to work with police and separate the bar from other problems in the downtown area.
“I don’t want to operate a business where the police need to come,” he said previously.
Loudy declined to comment Wednesday.
Law Director Terry “Pete” Shilling said he knows the bar has been under management by someone other than Costa for several months.
“I think this is a case where they want to purchase a license for themselves,” he said.
The pending permit request will not affect the upcoming hearing for Costa’s permit. Shilling said the issues at this time are separate.
Mardi Gras has had a hard time disassociating itself from the same crime and violence the city has said is common at Uncle Vic’s.
Shortly after Loudy took over, police say a February stabbing occurred at the bar and a number of other incidents have been linked by police to the bar, including one that happened just within the past few days.
An Elyria woman had to be flown to a Cleveland hospital after she was stabbed in an apartment on the upper floors of the building housing the bar, according to a police report. She told police she initially got into an altercation with another woman inside Mardi Gras and, after she left, she said she was attacked again by the same woman on the fourth floor of the building.
Police Chief Duane Whitely said the city learned of the request for the new license recently and his office will compile a report of the activity inside the bar so Council can make a decision about whether it should object to Loudy receiving the new license.
“It’s my opinion we should object to that liquor permit request,” he said. “It is not my call, but is up to City Council. But I can say we have had a number of issues and complaints about Mardi Gras.”
Contact Lisa Roberson at 329-7121 or lroberson@chroniclet.com.
