Groton stores, bars cited for sales to minors
Three stores and three bars allegedly failed a joint liquor compliance check that state and local authorities say involved selling alcohol to youth.
The stores that have been cited include the Stop & Shop at 220 Route 12, the Jo's Convenient Mart at 528 Gold Star Highway and the Mini Mart Food Store at 944 Route 12, according to the state Department of Consumer Protection.
The bars that have allegedly failed include Voodoo Grill at 12 Water St., Mystic; Sneekers Café at 568 Poquonnock Road, and Richoni's Lounge at 224 Poquonnock Road, the state agency said.
Richard Folz, the owner of Richoni's Lounge, and Hitesh Patel, the owner of the Mini Mart Food Store, said they plan to fight the charges.
"I felt like I've been railroaded with entrapment," Foltz said. "It's just unfair. They set us up. It's just not right."
Patel said the authorities offered no proof of the alleged violations.
On Thursday, the Liquor Control Division partnered with the Governor's Prevention Partnership, the Groton Town Police, and the City of Groton to check compliance with state laws at 16 package and grocery stores and six bars and restaurants in the town of Groton and the city of Groton.
The stores and bars that failed were cited for allegedly providing liquor to undercover youth provided by the partnership. The checks were conducted between 6 p.m. and midnight, said DCP spokeswoman Holly Maurice, and owners were informed of the results Thursday night.
The store and bar owners will receive a letter concerning the incidents and can attend a compliance meeting within the next few months and "present any information they think would be helpful to the commission as it looks into these allegations," said John Suchy, director of the state's liquor control division.
The commission can suspend or revoke a permit or fine the establishment or take any combination of those actions, Suchy said.
The owners of Jo's Convenient Mart and Voodoo Grill had no comment. A spokeswoman for Stop & Shop and the owner of Sneekers Café could not be reached to comment.
p.daddona@theday.com
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