Pitchers sports bar allentown
Pitcher's Sports Bar & Grille, 570 Union Blvd. in Allentown, has received 11 citations from the Liquor Control Board over the past 10 years.
(Express-Times File Photo | COLIN MCEVOY)
When Holly Wright's 19-year-old son unexpectedly died two years ago, she had no money to pay for the funeral.
But she was acquainted with an employee who worked at
in East
, and within four days of her son's death, they organized a benefit fundraiser for her.
The event, held the day before Dante Wright's funeral at the 570 Union Blvd. bar, raised about $5,000, which was enough for Holly to pay for the whole thing.
"If it wasn't for them, I wouldn't have been able to pay; I had nothing," said Holly Wright, a Bethlehem resident. "These people didn't even really know me, but they said, 'Absolutely, we'll help her.'"
The
's director of licensing has
, citing 11 violations there in the past 10 years, resulting in $4,350 in fines.
The Pitcher's manager acknowledges the past citations, but says most of the violations are minor and that they work hard to serve the community, including through many benefits like the one held for Wright.
Manager Jenique Jones said they feel "harassed" by the Pennsylvania Liquor Control Board, and that it is nearly impossible to find perfection in the bar industry.
"They hold you to standards that are almost perfect," Jones said. "All we're asking for is a chance."
Shawn Kelly, spokesman with the Pennsylvania Liquor Control Board, declined to comment on the claims of harassment.
The board held a hearing regarding the liquor license on July 8, and the hearing examiner will make a recommendation that will go to the board for final action later.
The largest single fine was $1,250 stemming from a November 2008 incident in which alcohol was served to a 19-year-old girl, according to state data.
The bar was most recently fined $700 on July 22 over allegations it engaged in "unlawful discrimination" in December by admitting female patrons for free while charging admission fees to men.
The latter fine stemmed from a "ladies night promotion," Jones said. Regarding the underage drinking violation, she said: "That's true. That happens. That's one time in 12 years."
Other past violations include operating illegal gambling devices, using bad checks to purchase alcoholic beverages, operating without a valid health permit, and improperly allowing the sale of unlimited draft beers for $10, according to the state.
Wright believes Pitcher's is a good business, noting that in addition to raising money for her son, they have helped buy school supplies for students after cuts at the Allentown School District.
"There are so many establishments around here that probably should be on their list first," she said of the Pennsylvania Liquor Control Board. "Everyone I've met there is very caring, very giving."
Bev Conklin, co-founder and past board member of the Second Story Blues Alliance, said Pitcher's has hosted a "blues jam" event every Sunday for the last four years, and frequently helped raise money for members of the blues community.
Jones said Pitcher's also cooked and helped serve food at the Safe Harbor shelter in Allentown during the difficult winter this past season.
Conklin believes Pitcher's particularly improved after the Coca-Cola Park and Lehigh Valley IronPigs moved to East Allentown, right across from the bar.
"Whatever has happened in the past, Pitcher's Sports Bar & Grille has really stepped up and made it a very nice venue to be at," she said. "People make mistakes. They learned from them and want to continue being a reputable venue."
Contact Allentown reporter Colin McEvoy at 484-894-2549 or cmcevoy@express-times.com.