Kandi Entertainment Center takes early 'last call'; 5-day suspension of liquor license ended Thursday

WILLMAR -- Informed that it had failed a recent compliance check conducted by the Willmar Police Department, the Kandi Entertainment Center unilaterally enacted its penalty of a five-day suspension of its liquor license before it was required to do so.

Kent Larson, general manager, told the Tribune that the KEC was one of seven local establishments to have been informed it had failed a compliance check conducted earlier this fall. Rather than avail itself of the right to a hearing on the charge, the KEC opted to take its penalty and be responsible for its mistake.

"We know what happened shouldn't have happened,'' said Larson. He declined to comment on the circumstances of the compliance check or the KEC's alleged violation.

The KEC also enacted the suspension immediately to lessen any adverse impacts on its customers, Larson added.

He said the last day of the suspension was Thanksgiving.

The city of Willmar sent a letter to the KEC notifying it that as the result of a third violation, it was subject to having its liquor license suspended for five days, according to City Attorney Rich Ronning.

Letters informing those found in violation of the compliance check were issued by City Clerk Kevin Halliday. He was unavailable for comment on Wednesday.