City considers early closing hours for Walnut Creek bar over public disturbances

WALNUT CREEK, Calif. (KGO) -- A longtime East Bay bar is under fire from city officials and police.

Crogan's Bar in Walnut Creek has been ordered to closer earlier because of to many police calls and a homicide outside the establishment last summer, but owners are fighting back.

Anyone who knows Walnut Creek knows Crogan's Bar. Since 1978 it's been the place where everybody knows your name.

"I came here as a child. I was brought here by my father and I continue to come here," said Walnut Creek resident Courtney Beckman.

Police say, they've been to Crogan's too. They've received more than 700 calls for service over the past four years ranging from disorderly conduct to an assault on a police officer and public intoxication.

Andy Martilla says the clientele is too rowdy for him most weekends. "The crowd's coming down here want to make me go someplace else," Matilla said.

Courtney Brown, 38, was shot and killed last August outside Crogan's after a dispute with another man.

The city now recommends Crogan's stop serving liquor at midnight and close by 12:30 a.m., instead of 2 a.m.

Bar owners told council members that would ruin business. New security at the door has been added.

"We check purses, fanny packs, people coming in and we take anything away from them now," said Patricia Wilkinson, Crogan's owner.

Police showed a chart showing that no other bar in town has more calls for service than Crogan's. But some believe Crogan's in being singled out.

"They're trying to make this a very high class area and taking out the people who made Walnut Creek the way it is," brown said.

The city will vote on the new hours for Crogan's on Dec. 5.