Smack Fest, a women’s face-smacking contest, has come back to hit a popular Green Line nightclub where it hurts most — the wallet.

Arnellia’s at 1182 W. University Ave. has agreed to give up its liquor license for 10 days in late March. The penalty, negotiated with city officials, stems from a Nov. 4 altercation between two contestants that took place in the bar’s parking lot following the all-female face-smacking contest known as Smack Fest.

A woman reported that she was violently assaulted by a fellow competitor and her friends.

St. Paul police say they requested surveillance video a few days after the assault and the bar was unable to provide it within the required 48 hours. City officials noted that the failure to provide video constituted the bar’s third license violation in 18 months, which would normally incur a $2,000 penalty and a 10-day license suspension.

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‘Moral courage’ training, already planned for St. Paul officers before George Floyd death, takes on more urgency Through their attorney, the bar asked for a legal hearing before an administrative law judge. A pre-hearing conference scheduled for Jan. 30 was canceled when Arnellia’s reached a settlement agreement with the city’s Department of Safety and Inspections, lowering the penalty to $500. They were also allowed to pick the 10 days they would be closed.

Arnellia’s license requires the bar to maintain 10 video surveillance cameras inside and outside the establishment, and maintain recordings for at least 30 days, or to be viewed immediately by police responding to a serious call upon request.

Arnellia’s will be closed from midnight March 22 to 11:59 p.m. March 31.

During a public hearing Wednesday, a representative of the bar promised there would be better management in the future. City Council President Russ Stark called Arnellia’s “an institution” but said “this Smack Fest stuff has got to stop.”