Maggie’s Liquor License denied

The state Liquor Authority on Thursday afternoon decided to deny Maggie’s on the River, 500 Newell St., a new liquor license, according to a spokesman for the authority.

The club’s management had not been officially notified Thursday about the decision.

Maggie’s received notice Tuesday that its license had expired, and an application for a new license was filed immediately. The application was denied Thursday because of information received from Watertown police, said William Crowley, director of public and legislative affairs for the agency.

The authority spokesman said the agency was notified by police that the club continued serving alcoholic beverages Tuesday after being notified that day that its license had expired Jan. 31. The owners had failed to apply for renewal, Mr. Crowley said.

However, a spokesman for the owners denied Thursday afternoon that they willfully ignored the notification and said the tavern did not continue to serve alcohol.

Mr. Crowly said there had been “a number of referrals” from the police department indicating the club was “out of control.” Police were being called there frequently to deal with intoxicated people and large crowds gathering outside the establishment, he said. In an incident on the morning of Jan. 8, Qavonjez N. Mason, 19, allegedly used a pocket knife to stab two other women.

Maggie’s previously has been under the Liquor Authority’s scrutiny, according to documents provided by the state agency. In November 2010, the tavern was assessed a $2,000 civil penalty after an investigator made a visit and determined that a service window was being operated as a second bar, which was not approved in the license. Last April, an additional penalty of $3,500 was levied for having a “continuing pattern of noise, disturbance, misconduct or disorder,” and for the failure of owners Reginald J. Schweitzer Jr. and Christina A. Shultz and their employees to “exercise adequate supervision over the conduct of the licensed business.”

The owners have the option to appeal, Mr. Crowley said.