Cahoots' liquor license suspended 36 days

In what could be a fatal blow for a popular Highlands neighborhood bar, Cahoots is being prohibited from serving alcohol for 36 days under a decision released Tuesday afternoon by Louisville's Alcoholic Beverage Control administrator.

The bar will have its liquor license suspended from Nov. 27 through Jan. 1, according to ABC Administrator Robert Kirchdorfer, who made the decision to pull Cahoots' liquor license based on a hearing officer's recommendations.

Neighborhood leaders have urged city officials to shut down the Highlands bar -- which is in the heart of Bardstown Road's nightlife corridor -- and called it a public nuisance.

The decision means all alcohol previously sold by Cahoots must be kept in a locked compartment that is separate from the service associated with food, or the bar must be locked and closed. Any appeal of the suspension must be filed within 30 days of the order.

Attorney Thomas Clay, who is representing Cahoots owner, Marcia Cain, did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

In an Oct. 9 decision, former Jefferson Circuit Judge Pete Karem scolded Cain for failing to live up to a prior agreement with the city. She had agreed to pay a $2,300 fine and put additional security with arrest powers around the business due to a May citation.

"Cahoots kept no records to show who was providing front and back uniform security at any time, let alone after some date in August," Karem said at the time.

No exceptions to those recommendations were filed in the 15-day window permitted, according to the city.

Reach reporter Bailey Loosemore at (502) 582-4646 or bloosemore@courier-journal.com. Reporter Phillip M. Bailey contributed to this story.