The saga of The Drunk Uncle, a bar in West Allis, continued as their liquor license hangs in the balance following a unanimous vote by the West Allis Common Council. The decision was made during Tuesday's council meeting, citing the owner's failure to present proper paperwork from the state as the primary reason for the non-renewal of the license. According to a WISN report, Kail Decker, the city attorney, stated that The Drunk Uncle was first notified of the state's revocation of its seller's permit in September 2024, initiating the council's move to cease the renewal of its liquor license.
A customer also has filed a lawsuit against Neal Steffek, The Drunk Uncle's owner, over an alleged defamation incident stemming from a one-star Google review. Brynn Dutelle, the plaintiff, claimed she experienced mistreatment by the bar’s staff, leading to an uncomfortable encounter. In a statement obtained by CBS 58, the lawsuit recounts how a bartender touched her face and made inappropriate comments, while Steffek allegedly kept kissing her friend and offered her a job.
Despite the ongoing legal battle, the city notes that The Drunk Uncle could rectify the situation by the license's expiration date on June 30, should Steffek manage to settle the required fees with the state. As reported by FOX6, this measure would allow him to reverse the council's stance on the non-renewal decision, which as of right now is not related to the aforementioned lawsuit.
As events unfold, the West Allis bar finds itself in an intricate situation, balancing bureaucratic compliance with the complexities of civil litigation. The Public Safety Committee's initial vote set off a process that may conclude with The Drunk Uncles definitive closure, unless the noted issues are timely addressed and resolved by Steffek, who currently faces mounting pressures both legally and from local governance. Dixon Gahnz, Dutelle's attorney, told WISN, "Ms. Dutelle's issue was that she was treated poorly by the staff, and the whole situation was very uncomfortable," emphasizing the personal repercussions of the allegations brought forward in the lawsuit.
