Marion County officials have voted not to renew the The Patron Saint’s liquor license, citing a recent string of problems associated with the downtown bar.
At the June 1 meeting of Marion County’s Alcoholic Beverage Board, the bar’s three co-owners and their lawyer spoke about their efforts to improve safety over the past months. Their lawyer, Clark Kirkman, pointed out that the bar operated for years without any serious violations.
But after a detective with the Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department spoke about multiple calls to the bar involving fights, narcotics and public intoxication, the board voted 2-1 against the renewal, citing public nuisance and criminal acts on the premises.
Co-owner Slater Hogan said he and his business partners plan to appeal the denial, the Indiana Business Journal reported.
The Patron Saint, located at 250 S. Meridian St., made headlines in September 2025 after one of its bouncers was arrested on allegations that he shot two bar patrons. That bouncer was on federal probation for a gun charge at the time of the shooting, according to court records, and was prohibited from being around firearms “in any capacity.”
Just over a week after the shooting, police were called to the bar again over a fight. One of the combatants had been granted entry to the bar and served alcohol even though she was underage.
In January 2026, the Indiana Alcohol and Tobacco Commission fined the business $2,000 and ordered it closed for two 3-day weekends. Staff were also required to undergo more training and its guest capacity was limited.
The nonrenewal affects both the Patron Saint and its sister business, the Saint Shack. The county’s recommendation will go before the Indiana Alcohol and Tobacco Commission for a final decision on June 16.
Ryan Murphy is the communities reporter for IndyStar. She can be reached at rhmurphy@indystar.com.
This article originally appeared on Indianapolis Star: Patron Saint denied liquor license renewal. Board cites ‘nuisance’
Reporting by Ryan Murphy, Indianapolis Star / Indianapolis Star
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By Ryan Murphy, Indianapolis Star | USA TODAY Network
