Liquor license of Latino Bar in downtown La Crosse could be revoked during special city council meeting

The future of a downtown La Crosse bar could depend on action by the city council at special meetings Thursday.

Council members could decide whether to revoke the liquor license of the Latino Bar and Grill on 5th Avenue South, because of repeated complaints about underage drinking.

On Wednesday, La Crosse Police Chief Shawn Kudron told the council Judiciary and Administration Committee about “habitual” violations at the bar.

“We see a lot of things that occur,” Kudron said. “Physical fights, people who deal with physical issues because of the fact that there’s some sort of confrontation, the individuals are under the influence of alcohol.”

The chief added that there are people who are “so incredibly intoxicated that they need to be taken to a medical facility to be detoxed.”

Kudron suggests that some people going to the Latino Bar apparently want to avoid being seen, looking the other way when police are near.

He also noted bar staffers have not helped the city try to correct the problem, which the tavern disputes.

Officers have been called to the Latino Bar over 100 times since it opened three years ago.

The full city council has scheduled a special 4 p.m. meeting to decide whether the bar can keep its license.