By Shelley Davis
Enquirer Columbus Bureau

COLUMBUS - Owners of the Avondale bar Uncle Milt's have failed to convince state regulators to give back their liquor license.

The Ohio Liquor Control Commission voted 3-0 Thursday to uphold a decision by the liquor control division last year to yank the bar's permit to sell alcohol. The commission decision came two days after a hearing in which owner Deanna Morgan insisted she'd made improvements.

The commission sided with neighbors and civic leaders who called the business, at Burnet and Erkenbrecher, a haven for drug dealers and criminals.

"The case was pretty clear-cut for us," said Wallace Edwards, chairman of the commission. "I asked the manager whether or not the bar created a substantial interference with the peace, sobriety and good order of the neighborhood, and he admitted, yes, it did."

Uncle Milt's has 21 days to appeal the decision to the Franklin County Court of Common Pleas. If the owner does not appeal by then, it will shut down.

If the bar appeals, it can ask the court to allow it to remain open through the process. Peter Swenty, lawyer for Uncle Milt's, said he does not know what the owner wants to do next.

Cincinnati City Councilman Chris Monzel, who has been an advocate for shutting down the bar, said he is already drafting a resolution asking the court not to allow the bar to stay open.

"I'm hoping that they don't file an appeal, that they give up. They've lost every step of the way," Monzel said.

The commission's decision was a welcome one to city leaders who have used Uncle Milt's as a test case to see just how fast they can shut down "trouble" bars, Monzel said.

"I think the decision is a great message," he said. "It tells the other establishments in our city that if they're going to break the law, we're going to come in, we're going to shut them down and we're going to win."

In a May police raid on Uncle Milt's, police officers seized 9 grams of cocaine and 43 grams of marijuana. Employees of a Ronald McDonald House for Children located across the street from the bar often complained of gunfire, as well as apparent drug deals and prostitution.

Ronald McDonald House employees said they were pleased with the commission's decision.

"This is a very positive move for the Avondale community. It will make our neighborhoods safer for our children and for everyone who lives here," said Jennifer Goodin, house director.