Albany

The owner of Jugs and Mugs, a Madison Avenue bar in the city's Pine Hills neighborhood, shuttered the business and relinquished its liquor license after a multi-agency raid Friday found the bar packed at three times its capacity and that minors had been served alcohol.

Owner David Cardona, who opened Jugs and Mugs in September, said he had an agreement to sell the business to another operator, whom he declined to name, and the new owner had been running the bar in recent months. But a lease was not yet signed, he said, and Cardona's name remains on the liquor license, according to State Liquor Authority records.

When Cardona was notified about Friday's raid and the resultant charges, he closed the business and voluntarily gave up the liquor license, he said.

"When I found out they were letting kids in there, I said, 'That's it. It's closed,'" Cardona said. "I wasn't running it, but my name is still on it, and I'm liable for it."

Cardona said he signed a no-contest plea to all the charges on Wednesday and expects to pay a fine. An SLA spokesman said the agency's board will decide on the fine and possible other consequences at a future meeting. Voluntarily relinquishing a license does not affect pending charges, the spokesman said.

The SLA said Jugs and Mugs — which has a maximum occupancy of 50 people — had about 150 patrons on Friday night. More than 50 of those were minors, the agency said.

Statements were taken from 28 minors; 18 of them said they bought drinks at the bar and the other 10 said other patrons supplied them, the SLA said.

Jugs and Mugs was charged on Monday with 20 violations, including selling to minors, having unlicensed bouncers and failing to supervise its premises.

Opened in August at 849 Madison Ave., Jugs and Mugs drew criticism for its name and failed to attract business for its eclectic food.

"The neighbors told me it wouldn't work, and they were right," Cardona said.

sbarnes@timesunion.com • 518-454-5489