Owner George Barlas confirmed the closing this afternoon.
“I did close Chop and Eleven, Mr. Barlas said. “Business was down for both sides ever since denial of liquor license by the city.”
City officials blamed a host of issues in the downtown area on Eleven Bar, a popular hot spot up through this weekend. The city council unanimously approved the denial of a liquor license to the business. Many people thought after this widely-publicized move that the restaurant and bar were closed.
“I couldn’t deal with the financial and personal pressure from the city denial,” Mr. Barlas explained.
An appeal to state officials was in the works, but there was no immediate word on progress there.
My dream was to move back to Mason City and open a small ” Athenian ” ! The hate I see here just amaze’s me ! I need to think this over
Your hatred is unbelievable, your facts are not the complete truth and have nothing to do with this issue.
Sorry to hear this. George, his family and the team at Chop/Eleven were always very good to me during the 4 years I lived in Mason City. Personally, I thought their food was the best in town, but even if you disagree with that judgement, you should be disgusted with the spectacle of a local business owner, doing his best to compete with fast food joints and national chain restaurants, being hounded out of business and probably out of town over what happens in the street in front of his establishment. How is that worse than/different from Lorados? And if that’s now the standard, WalMart should be next to go. If the City Council won’t stand and fight FOR the local guy, it deserves to sink…
Yet conveniently Lorados is allowed to stand.
Ironically the very same people on this very same topic several weeks ago were against chop and now they’re devil’s advocate for the other side
Concerned
great now the hood rats will be ruining another bar, first alley kats now eleven. maybe the police should do somthing about these imports ruining our town, if the judges would quit letting them out of jail our streets would be safe to walk at night again
This is how a city deals with establishments that have nude dancers, close the doors at 2 am, but continue to serve people locked inside, serve minors, or dally in other illegal activities behind the bar. It shouldn’t be how a legitimate establishment that has tried to avoid problems from the get go is treated. There was a dress code, the problems in the area have continued, and it will not end the problem. It’s the patrons, not the establishment, in this case.
Since the city (essentially) shut down these businesses, it looks like the PD will be able to spend some quality time on the north end of town cleaning that up then.
I wonder if Mr. Barlas will withdraw his appeal to the sate officials too?
This is very unfortunate. And I agree with Mr. Mirowski, Mr. Savas, and Mr. Children. And Savage and Our Leaders…. are unfortunately unable to understand that the move by the council to do this is just a first step. Next time it might be another business that is deemed ‘unsuitable’ for Mason City and for reasons that might not be as clear as was their reasoning behind forcing Chop and Eleven out.
This is a travesty;
What is that fine line?
I’m sorry, I forgot who I m talking with on this site. Individuals who hide their real names.
do you know what slander implies?
What are the odds the place catches on fire like all the other businesses they have owned.
Dumping your drunken problems into the street is not a viable solution and will not be tolerated.
Wouldn’t it be funny if all the trouble makers, drug dealers, losers, and douche bags moved to 15 W. State St.
No surprise here. Another example of why Mason City is thriving, and has grown to rival Rochester, Cedar Rapids, etc.
Oops.
This is the how the city works with business owners, close the business down and move on to someone else!