Old Town Public House forced to close
Sept. 11. By Dave Vieser. The Old Town Public House (OTPH) in downtown Cornelius has temporarily closed its doors and no one seems to know for sure when it will reopen.
According to a sign on their premises located at 21314 Catawba Ave., this popular home for libation among local residents will only be closed “temporarily.” However, the owner, Case Warnemunde, did not respond to several requests for comment from this reporter.
The closure apparently followed complaints from a neighbor, followed by local and state inspections. Previously authorities had classified OTPH as being in accordance as a coffee shop and retail bottle shop.
Of course, under the governor’s orders relating to controlling the spread of the coronavirus, bars remain closed in North Carolina.
After the most recent inspections, the ABC (Alcohol Beverage Control) and ALE (Alcohol Law Enforcement agency) issued a warning that OTPH was actually operating as a bar. 
Previously, OTPH had been visited by other ABC and ALE officers and had passed those inspections.
10 Comments
Comments are closed.
Our Partners
I have been able to (stealthily) lick and touch all the apples at the food lion across the street this whole time, but having a beer at OTPH is still too risky. Got it. btw the “licking” is a joke to make a point.
It’s a shame to do this to a local business owner. My husband and I both have small business meet ups there in the morning over a coffee. We would also go there for on the weekends and have breakfast when the food trucks are there. It was more than just a bar. Shame on them. There is a go fund me page to help the owners survive until they can open again.
The business can open to sell coffee and other non-alcoholic items.They are only restricted from on premise alcohol consumption during phase 2 per the Executive Order.
NCALE
Qureshi is Special Agent in Charge, Alcohol Law Enforcement Division, at the NC Department of Public Safety. He explained that NCDPS does not have authority over bars. “ALE is the primary agency that regulates the alcohol industry. We also regulate tobacco and lottery. We don’t want people to think ALE would keep a business from opening if they had other reasons to they could be open. Hopefully everyone can open safely and soon.”
Can we find out why they cannot open Public Grounds, a favorite coffee place? Can ABC and angry people cancel close a coffee shop? Others open all around…
It’s good to see that we are getting with the program.
As a regular patron of OTPH and friend of the owners I am dismayed that a neighbor would go to such lengths, calling ALE and ABC on almost a daily basis it seemed to try to get them shut down. With the addition of the new outdoor space as the primary congregation area, it would reason that OTPH is now a safer place to visit than many of the other still open drinking establishments and other types of businesses that rely mostly or solely on their tight indoor capacities. It is unfortunate that certain businesses such as OTPH have fallen through the cracks of these catchall phased governors orders. I would have hoped by now that the powers that be would have formed a panel to look at certain business circumstances on a case by case basis so we are not forcing established businesses to possibly close their doors forever. That is in no ones best interest. I look forward to their swift reopening so I can once again enjoy one of the very few local safe outdoor places to watch live music during this difficult time. And to the neighbor who single handedly forced their shut down- Shame on you!!! What gives you the right to dictate how everyone else lives their lives (safely, I might add). A Go Fund Me has been set up to help the owners through this unnecessary forced shut down so they dont fall prey to this governmental failure as many other businesses now have.
Anyone know the “neighborly “ businesses name that had it out for OTPH and complained?
It’s pretty simple. Vote red in November and all this will end.
LOL. What does that have to do with ABC classifying them as a bar? You’re better off boycotting all liquor sales in NC.