Youngstown restaurant 1 of 11 in state to have liquor license suspended for covid violations

The Tin Lizzy Tap Room and Restaurant in Youngstown is set to reopen on Friday after its liquor license was suspended for two weeks because the establishment violated restrictions meant to slow the spread of the coronavirus pandemic.

Owner Buck Pawlosky said he will play by the rules, but that doesn’t mean he likes them.

“People wanted to sit at the bar, I let them sit at the bar,” he said. “Let us live our lives the way we want to.”

A notice posted on the Main Street establishment’s door states that the liquor license was suspended Sept. 10 and the delivery or takeout of food was prohibited. The state police Bureau of Liquor Enforcement found that customers there were served alcohol without food and tables were too close together. Troopers said customers were not required to wear masks upon entry or exit from the building or when not seated at a table.

Pawlosky has owned the bar and restaurant for 40 years. The pandemic has eaten away tens of thousands of dollars in profits and the livelihood of employees while indoor dining was prohibited for nearly three months earlier this year.

“I’ve had enough, everybody’s had enough,” he said.

The Tin Lizzy is one of 11 establishments across the state that had their liquor license suspended for violating state-mandated rules about operating bars and restaurants during the pandemic, said Shawn Kelly, spokesman for the Liquor Control Board. Grapeville Station in Hempfield had its license suspended from April 28 to June 5. The owner previously said the establishment was cited twice for violating pandemic-related restrictions before the license was suspended.

Restaurants, bars and private clubs in Pennsylvania were permitted on June 5 to serve food and drink indoors for the first time since mid-March. State-mandated capacity limits and requirements for mask-wearing and social distancing remain in place.

On July 15, Gov. Tom Wolf reduced indoor dining capacity to 25% and ordered alcohol only be consumed on-site if it is accompanied by a meal. The indoor dining capacity limit increased to 50% on Monday.

In Allegheny County, Rusty’s Pittsburgh Sports Bar in Castle Shannon and Puzzlers Restaurant and Lounge in McKeesport both had their liquor licenses suspended on May 19, according to the Liquor Control Board. The suspension was lifted for Puzzlers on June 5 and Rusty’s followed 10 days later.

Inspectors with the county health department over the weekend shut down two establishments that were repeat offenders of pandemic-related restrictions.

Other establishments that had their liquor licenses suspended after violations of pandemic-related restrictions, according to the Liquor Control Board, were:

• Johnstown Freight Station, Cambria County, from Aug. 21 to Sept. 5.

• Almost Home In Nanty Glo, Cambria County, from Aug. 18 to Sept. 2.

• Pints Bar & Grill, Dauphin County, since Aug. 14.

• E P White Horse Tavern, Philadelphia, from May 12 to June 26.

• Trackside Tavern, Juniata County, from April 17 to June 12.

• Lacey’s Bar and Grill, Luzerne County, from April 1 to June 19.

• Stos Bar & Restaurant, Philadelphia, from March 23 to June 12.