Koko’s liquor license is suspended
By Terry Murry on Monday, January 4th, 2021 in Columbia Basin News More Top Stories
OLYMPIA – The state Liquor and Cannabis board has issued an emergency liquor license suspension for Koko’s Bartini at 4309 West 27th Place in Kennewick. The suspension is due to what the LCB terms the business’s refusal to comply with state COVID-19 guidelines. The suspension is for 180 days.
LCB states that Koko’s received the warning on Dec. 29 and opened on Dec. 30, which activated the suspension. The board reports that from Nov. 18 through Dec. 22, LCB received at least 143 complaints for allegations of COVID-19 violations.
“After several verbal warnings, a written warning and administrative violation notice, the premises has continued to violate the governor’s public health and safety proclamation and is currently open for on-premises services,” a news release from LCB states. “Through advertising and social media, the premises continues to encourage customers to come to the premises and join the ‘peaceful protest.’ The premises posts photos of customers (and) employees not wearing masks.”
Under the COVID-19 guidelines, restaurants and bars are closed for indoor service. Outdoor dining with a table size of five or fewer customers, and take-out service is permitted.
