Kilroy’s on Kirkwood to close Thursday, Saturday nights due to violations

This Thursday and Saturday, Kilroy’s regulars will have to make their way to another bar in Bloomington.\nKilroy’s Bar and Grill, 502 E. Kirkwood Ave., will be closed Thursday and Saturday night, will not serve alcohol during those days and will pay a $3,000 fine – all the result of alcohol violations involving minors, said Indiana State Excise Police Information Officer Jenny Fults.\n“This stems from an Aug. 24, 2007, incident when our officers arrested some minors inside the bar and Kilroy’s was charged with allowing minors to loiter and furnishing alcohol beverages to a minor,” Fults said.\nKilroy’s General Manager David Prall said Kilroy’s will be open until 6 p.m. Thursday and Saturday but will not be serving alcohol. \n“You still have to be 21 to be allowed in because there is a bar in the vicinity of the dining area,” he said. \nBloomington Police Department Sgt. Joe Sanders said the police department does not target bars. \n“We make sure when we see a large crowd that nothing illegal is going on,” he said. “Especially as the warm weather warms up.”\nSenior Eric Brathole said he thinks the suspension is “ridiculous.” \n“Kilroy’s does an outstanding job at keeping underage kids out,” he said as he stood outside of the bar. “A few select kids are making it so that people who are of age can’t drink here.” \nBrathole said Kilroy’s is the place to be on Saturday nights. Because Kilroy’s will be closed for a couple days this week, some students might go to one of the other bars on Kirkwood Avenue or Walnut Street.\nNick’s English Hut, across the street from Kilroy’s, expects more business on Thursday and Friday, said Pete Nikolaitis, manager at Nick’s. \n“I would imagine that we’re going to be busier than usual,” he said, “especially for lunch and \npossibly late at night.”\nIU student Lauren Hayes blamed underage drinkers.\n“I feel like it’s the kids’ fault, but I was one of those kids at one point,” she said. “It’s just being in the wrong place at the wrong time. These kids should expect it. They’re just really unlucky.”\nFults said the state excise police can only hope closing down Kilroy’s for a couple days this week will help decrease underage drinking. \n“(Excise) should have something else to do than rain in someone’s parade,” Brathole said. “Any night that I don’t have to go to work, I am always at Kilroy’s.”