3 days ago
'Great bodily injury': Shuttered Beer Hunter loses liquor license after serving minors
The California Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control says it revoked the license of The Beer Hunter Sports Bar & Grill in La Quinta after an investigation found bartenders furnished alcohol to minors without conducting ID checks in January 2024 — almost nine months before the longtime bar abruptly shut down.
The sports bar, located at the corner of Highway 111 and Washington Street, lost its license after ABC investigators determined two bartenders served alcohol to two "obviously intoxicated" minors, one of whom backed into a parked vehicle, exited the car and was struck by an oncoming vehicle, "resulting in great bodily injury."
"Keeping alcohol out of the hands of minors is one of our top priorities," ABC Acting Director Frank Robles said in a press release. "We're reminding businesses and their employees to check IDs carefully and do their part to keep Californians safe."
ABC announced the revocation on Friday, July 11. Although the license is officially revoked, the action is stayed for 180 days to allow for a transfer and remains suspended indefinitely until that transfer is completed.
The state agency launched an investigation following the incident, citing several offenses, including furnishing alcoholic beverages to a minor causing great bodily injury or death, sale of alcoholic beverages to a minor, service of alcohol to someone who was obviously intoxicated, and other business-related violations, the press release said.
The Beer Hunter closed in September 2024 without a public explanation, though signs reading "The Beer Hunter will be closed" and "for lease" appeared on the building. The site's property owner later confirmed that the restaurant was no longer operating.
Jordan Schnitzer, president of Oregon-based Schnitzer Properties, which owns the property and the surrounding shopping plaza, previously told The Desert Sun that The Beer Hunter had struggled for years to keep up with rent and had been operating on a month-to-month lease.
Schnitzer and his team are working with some restaurant brokers and architects to redesign the building featuring either one or two restaurants, he said.
The Beer Hunter had operated in La Quinta for three decades and previously had locations in Cathedral City and Palm Desert. A second location was planned at the former Roy's restaurant in Rancho Mirage and expected to open in early 2023, but it has yet to materialize.
Previous reporting by Tom Coulter was used in this report.
Jennifer Cortez covers education in the Coachella Valley. Reach her at
This article originally appeared on Palm Springs Desert Sun: Shuttered Beer Hunter in La Quinta loses liquor license after underage drinking
