By Jennifer Langston and cathy logg
Herald Writers
SNOHOMISH — Some downtown businesses and taverns are concerned that the tragic death of a Bothell firefighter after a bar fight this week could cast a shadow on a historic district they have worked for years to improve.
Some say downtown Snohomish still has a split personality, with European tourists and soccer moms shopping for antiques by day, and kids and drunks getting rowdy by night.
But most agree that the current problems with bars along First Street overserving alcohol pale in comparison to what they were a decade ago.
"I think Tuesday night’s incident was not only a personal tragedy but a tragedy for the street because of all the improvements that have been made," said Kurt Meacham, a city council member and owner of Fred’s Rivertown Ale House.
"I think it’s important that this incident or the things that have emerged from this one location aren’t used to paint a picture of the entire historic district. This is obviously a very unfortunate situation, but I don’t believe it’s an epidemic," he said.
The death of Snohomish resident Gary McAdam after an argument inside the U &I Tavern escalated into an assault on the street last Tuesday was just the latest and worst in a string of disturbances at that establishment.
The previous week, police responded to a brawl spilling out of the tavern that involved about a dozen people, Snohomish Police Chief Rob Sofie said.
The next evening, someone leaving the U &I got into a car and hit a truck on First Street, creating a demolition derbylike chain reaction that damaged seven parked cars.
Police have worked with many of the First Street bars, establishing a zero-tolerance policy for fighting, conducting training with bartenders and encouraging them to call for help, Sofie said.
"Most of the liquor establishments on First Street are responsible. They watch out for their people and they take care of problems," he said. "The U &I is on the opposite end of that spectrum. And there are a few that are in between."
The state Liquor Control Board has issued 14 warnings or violations to the U &I Tavern since 1995. The offenses included allowing lewd and disorderly conduct, serving minors, serving intoxicated customers, failing to have adequate lighting or signage, and giving away free liquor.
Only one warning, issued earlier this month for serving too much alcohol to a customer, was under the current owner’s management. Efforts to reach Keith Allen, who recently bought the tavern, were unsuccessful Friday.
Sofie said police are particularly concerned about bars serving customers too much alcohol and failing to call police when fights get out of hand.
"That resulted in a needless, senseless, tragic death," he said. "If they had followed our counsel and done what we’ve encouraged them to do, we’d have responded and handled it."
Three people have been arrested in connection with McAdam’s death. Lake Stevens resident Tony Cullum is under investigation for second-degree murder. Police believe Cullum followed McAdam outside and beat him after an argument with Cullum’s girlfriend, off-duty tavern employee Alexandra Love. She was charged with fourth-degree assault for allegedly striking McAdam.
A second tavern employee was arrested Thursday and is being investigated for harboring the pair and lying to police after the assault, police said.
Police and representatives from the state Liquor Control Board have been meeting this week to explore sanctions against the U &I. They’re looking at everything from suspensions to revoking its liquor license to investigating violations of gambling laws, Sofie said.
Kate Miyasato, senior enforcement officer for the Liquor Control Board’s northwest region in Everett, said the board would not make a decision on taking enforcement action against the tavern until police have finished their investigation.
Some hope McAdam’s death will prompt the liquor board to crack down on bars that overserve alcohol and crack down on unruly behavior.
Don Everest, owner of Snohomish Coffee Roaster and Java Inn, said he started closing an hour earlier in 2001 because of the way downtown’s complexion changes at night.
With more than a half-dozen bars in a three-block stretch, patrons can get cut off at one place and walk across the street to another.
"At night you’ve got a lot of kids … that have good jobs so they’ve got spending money, and they blow it on booze and there’s always fights spilling out," he said. "It can make Pioneer Square look tame."
Ale House owner Meacham said he had faith that the liquor board will investigate the circumstances surrounding McAdam’s death and take appropriate action. He’s concerned about the string of accidents and altercations.
"In my opinion, the root cause is that some liquor establishments make overservice an integral part of their business concept. It essentially becomes a niche for them to serve people who can’t get served anywhere else," he said.
Wendy McCallum, who has owned Chub’s Tavern in downtown Snohomish for 14 years, said she thinks happy hours are part of the problem. They don’t pay off, and they get people too drunk too quickly, she said.
After being in the bar business for 40 years, she’s also learned you have to set the atmosphere in your own place. You watch the door, lay down the law about fighting, pay attention to body language and diffuse altercations before they become fights.
She said her heart goes out to everyone who has been touched by McAdam’s death. She hopes it won’t lead to bad blood between businesses.
"It takes all of us in business to make it," she said. "It takes the bars, the food, the retail stores and all of us to make a town and make a town work."
You can call Herald Writer Jennifer Langston at 425-339-3452
or send e-mail to langston@heraldnet.com.
Talk to us
> Give us your news tips.
> Send us a letter to the editor.
> More Herald contact information.
