Bad bet: Pub loses license over pool

ELBURN -- After being investigated for offering a $60,000 Super Bowl pool, Emma's Pub & Cantina has lost its liquor license.

Tuesday's public hearing seeking to revoke the liquor license of the pub at 117 N. Main St. was canceled, following approval of an agreement between the pub owners and the village.

That agreement requires the owners to turn in their liquor license, never again sell liquor on the premises or apply for a liquor license in the future, or be a business partner of any form of a liquor license holder. It also disallows patrons from bringing their own booze into the downtown pub.

No fines were rendered, and "the pending proceedings were dropped without prejudice," according to village officials.

Village officials said Elburn Police Chief James Linane and the liquor licensee and owner of the pub, Kathleen Alvarez of Elgin, signed the agreed village order.

Police earlier this month released a complaint alleging the pub was running a $60,000 Super Bowl "squares game" that had jeopardized the tavern's liquor license.

Days after police announced they wanted the pub's liquor license revoked, a Kane County grand jury indicated Michael A. Alvarez of Elgin -- the husband of Kathleen Alvarez -- on multiple counts of gambling, a Class 3 felony; two counts of keeping a gambling place, a Class 4 felony; and two counts of solicitation; and four counts of gambling, both Class A misdemeanors.

Alvarez, 52, has previous convictions for keeping a gambling place and syndicated gambling in DuPage County and was sentenced to four years in prison.

Elburn police alleged that 100 "squares" were being sold for $600 apiece, and that Michael Alvarez was running the game.

Kathleen Alvarez is named as the liquor license holder through a corporation, E & J Corp., as president, secretary and treasure and owner of all stock. The village issued the license in 2006.

According to the Illinois Liquor Control Act, a liquor license cannot be issued to a person "who is not of good character and reputation in the community" or to someone "who has been convicted of a felony" under federal or state law. The state act also says that the business manager must "possesses the same qualifications required by the licensee" and "a person who has been convicted of a gambling offense" cannot hold a liquor license.

The police complaint alleged Michael Alvarez was on the premises managing the pub and accepting bets. Participants in the games paid money directly to Michael Alvarez to place their bets on a particular square, police said.

"The lawyers reached a settlement and I felt it was in the best interest of the community to sign off on it," said Mayor Jim Willey. "The revocation of the license is the ultimate fine."

"I don't believe this is only happening in Elburn," he added.

The mayor said he did not know what would happen to the pub's ownership.