By Cathy Logg
Herald Writer
SNOHOMISH — When it comes to the U &I Bar and Grill, Snohomish is a city divided by opinions.
The tavern reopened Friday after having its license suspended by the state Liquor Control Board for a month. And on its first day back in business, the bar had no shortage of customers. More than two dozen people relaxed, played pool and enjoyed drinks inside the bar in the early evening.
Some people in the bustling downtown area welcomed the reopening, while others were angered that the tavern is still in business.
"I’m glad it’s open," said Snohomish resident Howard Heath, 49. "I believe we got a bad rap. We’ve had altercations, but it’s been minor stuff."
Heath has "worked the door" determining who gets in, he said.
"We’re all friends here. We all meet here after work. They always have a doorman checking IDs and keeping things calm."
"We’ve really missed it," agreed Frank Robbins, 42, of Snohomish. "It was an unfortunate set of circumstances."
State liquor officials issued an emergency suspension of the bar’s license last month after a series of violent incidents connected to the tavern, the latest of which turned deadly. Bothell fire Lt. Gary McAdam died from injuries he suffered in a fight Feb. 26 that started inside the bar and ended in the street.
Lake Stevens fisherman Tony Cullum, 28, has been charged with first-degree manslaughter. His girlfriend, Alexandra "Ali" Love, 23, was charged with misdemeanor assault, and three others have been charged with rendering criminal assistance, a misdemeanor. Love and two of the others arrested were tavern employees.
Police say the tavern is the most unruly in the city.
Next door at the Oxford Tavern on Friday, Mike Cobb, 53, of Monroe didn’t want to see the U &I back in business.
"I think it’s a real travesty," he said. "Everybody here is outraged. It’s tough for me to imagine that anywhere else somebody could go outside and something like that happen without a group of guys saying, ‘Enough’s enough,’ and breaking it up. They’re all old pool-playing buddies and nobody did anything to stop it. The U &I is always going to be the place a guy got beat to death."
The state planned to revoke the tavern’s license at the end of the suspension unless owner Keith Allen appealed.
He did. The tavern’s appeal hearing is scheduled April 24 and 25 at the liquor board’s Everett office, 909 SE Everett Mall Way, Suite D480. It is open to the public, although the judge can limit the number of people if the space is limited, board spokeswoman Tricia Currier said.
Liquor board enforcement agents met Wednesday with Snohomish police and Allen, Currier said. They outlined the board’s expectations and any training needed for Allen’s employees, she said.
"We’re going to have an agent checking the premises twice a week. The court takes these things very seriously," Currier said.
Allen, who was at the tavern Friday, declined to comment.
But Susanne Parker, 57, of Snohomish described herself as "full of opinion."
"The police knew what they were doing. It’s the management that’s gotten out of hand," she said. "When something gets out of hand, you’re supposed to call the police department. You have a responsibility to your customers."
Her husband, Ron Parker, 59, has a different view. He sees no problem with the tavern reopening.
"Life is full of errors, and we’ve all had errors," he said. "It’s what you do after you’ve had an error that proves who you are."
You can call Herald Writer Cathy Logg at 425-339-3437
or send e-mail to logg@heraldnet.com.
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