ST. CLOUD - Two downtown St. Cloud bars will remain closed, after the St. Cloud city council denied their request to renew their liquor license.

The council voted unanimously against the application for McRudy's Pub and and RumRunner's Spirits and Brew Club.

City staff read through what they say is a long list of violations, including: health code violations, police violations, and overcrowding issues, that have occurred at both bars over a period of at least the past seven years.

However, attorney Steve Bader representing the owners of the bars, questions the accuracy of the number of violations.

Police Chief Blair Anderson says 45 percent of the total random bar checks conducted over the past five years were at those two bars. But, Bader says police are unfairly targeting their bars with more frequent bar checks.

McRudy's and RumRunners are jointly owned by Brad Ireland and Eric Sandrock.

The liquor license they applied for would have been for one year from July 1st through the end of June of next year.

Both bars closed their doors on June 6th, pending the outcome of tonight's (Monday) public hearing.

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