VALPARAISO | The Franklin House, which bills itself as the county's oldest pub dating back to 1857, faces allegations of selling alcohol and offering pull-tab gaming without valid permits.
The bar, 58 South Campbell St., also has been cited for buying alcohol from an improper source, said Travis Thickstun, public information officer with the Indiana Excise Police.
The business was not in operation Friday, and owner Jason Evans could not be reached for comment.
The citation alleging improper alcohol sales was issued June 15, while the other two came during a visit by excise police July 9, Thickstun said.
The alcohol sales permit expired June 18, and the pull-tab permit expired Sept. 12, he said.
The citations were referred to the Indiana Alcohol & Tobacco Commission, which will offer some sort of settlement based on the severity of the allegations and history of the business, Thickstun said. The offer could include fines, suspensions and, in rare cases, permit revocation.
The bar owner must clear up the violations before attempting to renew the expired licenses, Thickstun said. Once the citations are resolved, the owner could seek permission to extend the licenses by three months while petitioning the Porter County Alcoholic Beverage Commission for renewed licenses.
The local commission would make a recommendation to the state commission for final action.
The Franklin House shares a building with apartments and the ChicaGo Dash station, the latter of which is not affected by the bar's woes, said Tyler Kent, Valparaiso transportation manager.
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