Mankato City Council Revokes License for 507 Bar After Repeated Violations

The Mankato City Council has revoked the liquor license for The 507, ending the downtown bar’s ability to operate under a grandfathered Class B license after a series of violations involving underage drinking, illegal alcohol service, and over-occupancy. The revocation comes after three documented violations within a 12-month period — the threshold that triggers mandatory review and possible sanctions under city code. The bar, located at 526 South Front Street, officially closed earlier this month after the building owner declined to renew its lease.

The first violations occurred on Aug. 23 and 24, when police found multiple underage individuals inside the establishment, including one with a blood alcohol concentration of .179 and others using fake or borrowed IDs. Officers also cited the bar for selling a beer pitcher to a single patron, a direct violation of city ordinance requiring at least two verified 21-plus individuals for pitcher service. The following November, city police and fire staff documented severe over-occupancy, estimating roughly 100 people inside a space legally capped at 70, with no staff monitoring the door or checking IDs.

The council ultimately voted unanimously to permanently revoke the license, requiring any future bar at the location to apply under current rules, which mandate food-service revenue thresholds.