Future of Murph's still uncertain after LCB hearing

Murphy's Tavern owners Joseph and Jim Murphy will have to wait a few more weeks to find out the fate of their bar, located at 44th and Spruce streets. On Friday, Jim Murphy and six others speaking on behalf of the Murphys, testified in front of the Pennsylvania State Police Bureau of Liquor Control Enforcement. Administrative Law Judge Tim Savage, who heard the case, said a report will be issued in about a week. After the report comes out, the LCB will make their final judgment, but Savage could not say how long it will take the board to decide. In late October the annual renewal of the bar's liquor license was called into question because of allegations of abuse of licensing privileges and in late January, citations were issued at Murphy's to 63 underage drinkers. Murphy's has been operating since November under temporary authority from the Liquor Control Board. During Friday's hour-long hearing, several witnesses testified that Murphy's is a "neighborhood" bar that is very supportive to the surrounding the community. Joe Ryan, the Murphy's attorney, said the proceedings went well. He added that he wanted to show that Murphy's is more than a piece of paper with a list of violations on it, but a place that means something special to the people in the area. "He's in a bad geographical place because of the closeness of the campus," Ryan said. Jim Murphy testified that he has become more vigilant about underage drinking in the past year and promptly fired a bartender and waitress after the January incident. Murphy added that he also closed the "rathskeller," the basement portion of the tavern, and has posted signs about the legal drinking age on the door of the bar. Murphy also said that the bouncers regularly check for proof of age, and confiscate fake IDs. And Murphy and his staff have had to attend a program sponsored by the LCB concerning underage drinking. "Murphy's is a neighborhood bar, not a campus bar," said Billy Meeks, manager of student records at the Graduate School of Education. Robert McGurk, a police officer in the 18th district whose job includes patrolling the area around Murphy's, said the tavern has never been considered a "nuisance" bar. "Murphy's is just considered to be a neighborhood bar," McGurk said. "We rarely are ever called to disturbances from the bar."