Amid allegations of bad business practices, a week without opening and the possibility of investigation by the city of Carbondale, a local restaurant surrendered its license Friday.

Carbondale City Clerk Janet Vaught said Jonathan Stewart, promotions and entertainment director for Chadwick’s Bar & Grill, 204 W. College St., turned in the restaurant license.

Neither Stewart, nor Chad Little, Chadwick’s owner, could be reached for comment.

Advertisement

In a nutshell, they’re closing, and they’re not planning to re-open, Vaught said.

Allegations of bad business practices were brought forward at the Dec. 4 Liquor Advisory Board meeting, including the following:bad check writing, changing receipts to meet the 51 percent non-alcoholic sales required by the Class A-2 liquor license and not purchasing alcohol from distributors.

At that meeting, the board unanimously approved forwarding the allegations to the Local Liquor Control Commission, as well as a recommendation requesting an audit of the restaurant. The business closed on Dec. 7.

Carbondale City Manager Jeff Doherty said the commission will be informed of the latest information.

We’re informing the Liquor Control Commission they (Chadwick’s) have turned in their license and the business is closed, he said. As far as staff is concerned, the matter is now closed.

Mark Robinson, Liquor Advisory Board vice chairman, said it was probably for the better that the business closed.

It was in their best interest not to fight it and maintain some dignity, he said. Everybody is entitled to their day in court, but the allegations were pretty damning.

Advertisement*

Allegations of employees not being paid also arose at the Dec. 4 meeting, but Doherty said that is not the city’s responsibility.

The city is not involved in employer/employee relationships, he said.

Bob Eikey, the former kitchen manager for Chadwick’s who brought the initial allegations against Chadwick’s to the board, said he and some other employees plan to file a lawsuit against the business.

If I don’t get paid, I plan to file a suit against Chadwick’s, he said. It’s in the works now.