The decision made by Madison’s Alcohol License Review Committee to close the Kollege Klub for two weeks left neither ALRC members nor KK owner Bruce Meyer satisfied. The committee decided that in addition to a $1,588 fine, the KK will be forced to close after UW students return from winter break, from Jan. 25 to Feb. 14.

The dates of suspension were an issue for some members of the ALRC who felt that if the suspension was during winter break, when many KK patrons leave Madison, the license revocation would not constitute a proper punishment.

The decided dates of suspension will cost the KK an estimated $40,000 in lost profits.

However ALRC committee member and Bullfeathers owner Dick Lyschek said he believes the ALRC’s figures may be too small.

“The start of every semester is the most profitable for many State Street area businesses,” Lyschek said at Monday’s meeting. “I think that the potential loss for the KK has been underestimated.”

In addition to the projected fiscal losses the KK faces, City Attorney Jennifer Zilavy pointed to the loss of business the KK may suffer after the suspension.

“Anytime you close a business down, people form new habits,” Zilavy said. “The future loss of patrons for the KK is immeasurable.”

The proposed plea bargain passed with a narrow majority of 3-2.

ALRC member William Cosh expressed major concerns with the proposed deal.

“It’s a slap on the wrist,” Cosh said. “I don’t think it’s a good deal for the city or for the residents of the State Street area.”

Cosh suggested a much longer and even complete suspension of the Kollege Klub’s liquor license.

“Over the years, the profit the KK has gained from allowing underage patrons into their establishment far exceeds the profits they will loose from a two week suspension,” he said.

KK owner Bruce Meyer remained completely silent during most of the meeting and allowed his attorney, Charles Giesen to do most of the speaking in the KK’s defense.

Only until he was directly addressed by ALRC chair Tim Bruer did Meyer make any comment.

“The real problem here isn’t being addressed,” Meyer said in his defense. “The IDs students are turning in to the cops aren’t the ones they’re showing to the bouncers. They’re keeping the good ones and giving the cops the throw aways.”

However valid Meyer’s point may have been, as six of the IDs confiscated during the bust were initially undetected by the officers on duty, he was silenced by Bruer and told to stick to the agenda.

The seemingly short liquor license suspension is coupled with an order that the entire business, including the restaurant, will be closed.

Because of a “moral obligation” to his employees, Meyer said he will continue to pay four full-time employees during the suspension and three who work only during daytime hours and are completely unassociated with the bar time business.

Ross Johnson, general manager of State Street Brats, said he believes the suspension of the KK’s restaurant license is unjust.

“Not even allowing food sales is very harsh,” Johnson stated. “The ALRC has always tried to support food sales with a successful bar business. By suspending their restaurant license as well, they are contradicting themselves.”

Johnson also pointed to the fact that there are more important safety issues Madison law enforcement should be dealing with besides underage drinkers.

“On a greater scale, our resources should be put towards more serious offenses in the downtown area,” he said.

With the rising number of offenses against the KK and growing pressure from the ALRC, Meyer has hinted towards selling or relocating the KK.

“I’d love to find a buyer,” Meyer stated. “But I’m not going to give it away.”