The names “Jill’s Grill” and “Anna’s Steakhouse & Saloon” conjure up images of an innocent diner where a visitor can grab a drink and good eats.
But according to some city officials, the location at 633 Main St. has been anything but a pleasant hangout.
“We had issues at that location . . . and nothing would ever get done,” said at-large City Councilman Eric Turner, who is also deputy liquor commissioner. “We finally had to close it, and it was so bad the liquor commission and the staff attorney made a recommendation (the owner) should sell the place.”
One council member believes the operator, Sonny’s Club Inc., should have a chance to give the Downtown establishment another go. The City Council also is willing to give it time.
On Tuesday, behind the urging of 1st District City Councilman Clyde Gulley, the council opted to defer a vote granting Sonny’s Club the ability to obtain a tavern liquor license with a 4 a.m. closing hour.
“I think we as a city discriminate against someone who wants to have a business because something went wrong for something they weren’t responsible for,” Gulley said. “Why would we hold people responsible for something they maybe did not do?”
If it weren’t for Gulley, the council may have voted it down. By unanimous decision on Feb. 1, the liquor commission recommended the council vote down the site approval to operate the tavern at 633 Main St.
During that meeting, the city’s liquor investigator Scott Jordan said between 2004 and 2008 there were 17 battery calls, two shootings and three mob action reports at the establishment. During that time, 633 Main St. operated under different names including Anna’s Steakhouse but always under the same corporate owner, Sonny’s Club.
“It was never a steakhouse,” Turner said. “They can call it what they want to call it, but there was never a steak (sold) in there.”
Turner added, “I don’t have a problem with it reopening. My concern is reopening it under the same owner and allowing us to return back to those days when the neighboring bars were complaining to me about what we will do about this place.”
The building is owned by local attorney Warren Danz, who referred comments about the place to attorney Jack Teplitz.
“I think there were problems at a certain point with the operation with it,” Teplitz said. “But we don’t know yet who the ultimate users will be.”
Teplitz said a third-party operator could be asked to run the establishment, although nothing has been decided.
He also said the city’s consideration at this point should focus on the site approval to sell liquor at 633 Main St. He said there should be no problems with that since the building has housed taverns in the past.
He said “it’s premature” to analyze the future owner’s background, a process that occurs before a liquor license is granted.
“We’re trying to say this is a new day and to look at the people involved at this point and what is being proposed,” Teplitz said.
Neighboring businesses want 633 Main St. reopened, but not with the problems it once had.
“The bigger the block is, the more attractive it is,” said Joe Ulrich, owner of Mushrush’s at 631 Main St. “But the past couple of places (at 633 Main St.) haven’t been good for the block. I think people were scared to come to this block for a while just because of some of the incidences that occurred in that bar alone.”
John Sharp can be reached at 686-3282 or [email protected].
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