Cy’s Roost owner faced with loss of liquor license

Heather Harper

An Ames bar owner is facing a possible suspension of his liquor license after his bar sponsored several tailgate parties last year that served alcohol to minors, city officials said. Patrick Greene, owner of Cy’s Roost, 121 Welch Ave., will have to battle on behalf of his bar against the City of Ames once his court date is set, said Judy Parks, assistant city attorney. A hearing was set for Sept. 11 but was continued because both sides needed more time. Attempts to reach Greene for comment were unsuccessful. Department of Public Safety officers ticketed Patrick Greene for illegally selling alcohol on the south side of Jack Trice Stadium before three ISU home football games last fall. The stadium parking lot was not authorized by his liquor license, and beer was distributed to underage persons, according to county reports in Nevada. He was charged with three counts of bootlegging and three counts of supplying alcohol to underage persons. Greene pleaded guilty last April to one count of bootlegging and one count of supplying alcohol to underage persons. The other four counts were dropped. Parks said the City of Ames filed an administrative complaint earlier this summer against Cy’s Roost for illegally selling alcohol to minors. She said administrative complaints are charges that are brought against an organization or business. “He pleaded guilty and that’s to the advantage of the city in a situation like this,” she said. Ron Sotak, the attorney representing Greene and Cy’s Roost, filed the notion on Greene’s behalf to have the hearing continued. “We’ve requested a hearing to determine the merits of the administrative complaint, and then we can argue about the deposition,” he said. Parks said the new court date has not been set. She said she hopes the case ends soon. “We hope it gets set soon so we can get it resolved,” she said. If the court sides with the city, Greene could face various fines and penalties for selling to a minor that could include a $500 to $1,000 fine and/or 30 to 60 days in jail. If Greene is found guilty of bootlegging, he could face a one-year suspension of his liquor license, Parks said.