TOLEDO, OH (Toledo News Now) - The owners of four Toledo bars were in Toledo City Council chambers on Thursday, pleading their case to keep their liquor licenses.
Council could recommend the Ohio Liquor Control Commission revoke the licenses in question because of police activity and crime at the bars.
On the chopping block are the liquor licenses for Rocket Bar, Upton Bar, The Bottom Line and Legendz bar, which was once known as Jesse James bar.
Council took one bar off the list Thursday. That was The Bottom Line on Starr Avenue. Owner Terry Carroll says he has hired private security to clean up his businesses, and police have been called there only once since October.
Legendz Bar owner Khalil Smidi says he is working to clean up his bar, increasing the age of those he admits.
"We were at 21 and up now were at 25 and up, it's better that way to protect the people," said Smidi.
Council will vote next Tuesday whether or not to recommend the state revoke the liquor licenses of the remaining three bars. If they do, the owners will then take their case to the Ohio Liquor Control Commission in Columbus.
