One of Broad Ripple's longest-running bars is preparing to close its doors after state regulators upheld a recommendation to deny renewal of its liquor license. Connor's Pub, which has poured drinks at 6331 Ferguson Street since 1979, was labeled a public nuisance by the Marion County Alcoholic Beverage Board, according to a report.
A Broad Ripple Fixture Since 1979
The bar's closure marks the end of a run that began nearly five decades ago, when Mike and Denny Connor opened its doors after the previous occupant, J-Boys bar, shut down, according to Towne Post. Over the years, Connor's Pub built a reputation for its bar fare, with a kitchen turning out pizzas, burgers, tenderloins and wings, per the same account. Current owner John Yaggi purchased the bar from the Connor brothers in 2002, taking over a neighborhood institution that had already carved out a loyal following.
According to the Indianapolis Business Journal, state regulators upheld the Marion County Alcoholic Beverage Board's recommendation to deny the pub's license renewal, a decision tied to the board's public nuisance designation. The report does not detail the specific findings or vote behind that determination.
Owner Faces Tax and Recordkeeping Charges
The license fight comes against the backdrop of criminal charges filed against Yaggi in June 2025. Prosecutors charged him with four counts of failure to remit taxes held in trust, four counts of failure to remit food and beverage tax, one count of failure to keep records open for examination, and one count of making an unlawful proposition, according to WISH-TV.
The station reported that prosecutors alleged Yaggi failed to remit taxes over several years and failed to keep basic financial records open for examination. An investigation into Yaggi and the bar began in 2023, the outlet noted, and as of the station's June 2025 report, no arrests had been made and no court date had been set.
What Comes Next for Permit Holders
Indiana rules do give permittees a path to keep operating even after a renewal denial. According to Indiana Administrative Rules, a permittee may request a limited operating extension by timely filing an objection and requesting an appeal hearing before the commission. It is not clear from available reporting whether Connor's Pub pursued that option.
Connor's Pub is not the only Indianapolis establishment to lose a license over nuisance concerns recently. In June, the downtown nightclub Patron Saint saw its board vote 2-1 against renewing its license after facing criticism from Indianapolis police following several incidents, with members citing public nuisance and criminal acts as reasons for the denial, according to FOX59. That case offers a separate but recent example of the same regulatory process now playing out in Broad Ripple.
