MASON CITY – The downtown Mason City establishment Chop Restaurant and Eleven Bar has closed permanently, NIT has learned.
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.