Chelsea’s, state strike liquor deal

• Advocate staff report
• Published: Sep 30, 2009 - Page: 1B

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Chelsea’s Café and the Louisiana Office of Alcohol and Tobacco Control hammered out an agreement Tuesday that will allow the restaurant and bar to serve alcohol again beginning at 11 a.m. today.

Brandon Brown, the attorney for Chelsea’s Café owner Dave Remmetter, said all the lawsuits and legal fights between the ATC and Chelsea’s are now over.

Brown said the agreement was reached Tuesday following a hearing with the agency.

According to an ATC news release, the agency lifted a one-year suspension of Chelsea’s state liquor license Tuesday.

Before Tuesday, Chelsea’s Café and the ATC had been locked in an on-again, off-again battle over proper licensing.

The ATC accused Remmetter of operating an illegal business under the Perkins Road overpass because he was selling more alcohol than food in an area not zoned for a bar.

Brown said food sales have accounted for 61 percent of Chelsea’s revenue in the first part of this year.

“All we’ve asked from the beginning is that Chelsea’s accept responsibility for its illegal activity and make a true effort to come into compliance,” ATC Commissioner Murphy Painter said in Tuesday’s news release.