Speak Up: Irish Mike’s owner calls Dover’s actions ‘wrong’

Irish Mike’s Olde Towne Tavern owner spoke out in a statement on the suspension of his bar’s business license by Dover City Council. Kevin Howard, who has owned the Loockerman Street establishment for almost 30 years, called the city’s actions last month unlawful and wrong.

• Democrats blame the bar for what the drunk public does. Just like it is always the gun’s fault and not the liberal shooting it. — Jim Green

• Blah, blah, blah. You need cheese for your whine. — Rick Reed

• Liberals think the folks causing the problem can’t walk across the street and drink, also. — Jim Green

• They’re liable for what goes on at their establishment, not much different than overserving the drunks. — Frank Williamson

• The whole area is a dump. Bulldoze it all and start over. — Steve Josefowski

• If you live here, you know what goes on there. Didn’t take more than a couple visits to see all the behind-the-scenes activity and choose to never return. Although we surely need activity downtown, we don’t need this kind of activity. I’ve bartended for 40 years, and the lack of responsibility can’t be ignored and was profoundly obvious while there. All bars are subjected to unintended activity. You’ve got to stay on top of it and address it all the time! Didn’t take anyone with any knowledge to know and recognize the problems there, and it’s very insincere for those involved not to acknowledge that. If you’re not even going to acknowledge your problems, then you’re obviously not planning on addressing them. It’s a shame. We so badly need good, responsible, fun, inviting, entertaining establishments downtown that everyone can feel comfortable going to. That would not be how I would describe this establishment. — Sue Harris

• I understand the bar might have problems of their own, which should be taken care of first and foremost. But as far as all the inappropriate activity on the streets, this is up to the police and the city to control. Stop being afraid of hurting someone’s feelings, and everyone should have to obey the law. Come on, Dover, you can do better than this! — Bonnie Millman

• (Illegal activity) outside the bar all need to be held accountable no matter what. The longer we allow this to happen, the more it will. An owner of a business can only do so much. Set the standards high and the right crowds will attend. It’s an easy fix. — Linda Iverson

• I agree! Such a shame how Dover has went down the drain! — Bonnie Millman

• Why is Delaware going after small businesses? — Anita Anderson Spangler

• Just the ones that have open brawls in front a couple of times a week, especially if there is gunfire involved. — Rick Schuman

• Downtown Dover is not safe, even in the daytime. — Denise Ginger Ginger

• Dover wants to point the finger in one direction, but sadly, crime has been on the rise all over, not just by Irish Mike’s. — Deb O’Brien

• Do people actually go to this bar? It’s a dump. — Jimmy Cox