LOUISVILLE — Chase’s Riverside Dining, located at the River Course at Louisville Landing, has been cited by the New York State Liquor Authority for purchasing alcohol from sources other than legal distributors.
The restaurant and management of the operation came under fire during a recent Louisville Town Board meeting when more than three dozen residents were in attendance, with many calling on town board members to investigate alleged wrongdoing.
The list of complaints ranged from illegal purchases and sales of alcohol, including operating without a liquor license, to operating without proper insurance, paying employees under the table and failure by owners to register employees and properly remit Social Security and payroll taxes. Though many concerns were leveled by residents, North Country This Week could not independently verify those claims.
State Liquor Authority cites Chase’s Dining
According to documents obtained by NCTW, owners Marisa Middlemiss and Jason Stephenson were cited following an inspection by BCI investigators.
The documents from the Liquor Authority allege that on or before May 27, 2025, violations were found after the owners admitted to purchasing and receiving alcoholic beverages for resale from a person not duly licensed to sell alcohol for resale purposes.
According to documents, BCI Aicher and BCI York conducted a disclosed inspection of the premises, at which time they found nine liquor bottles that had price sticker residue on them.
Investigators also observed a box with numerous price stickers stuck to it as well, the documents state.
Upon further investigation, investigators also found a receipt dated May 26, 2025 from Parkway Express for the purchase of two 30-packs of Labatt Blue Light, one 30-pack of Bud Light, as well as one 24-pack of Michelob Ultra. Cans of each type of beer were observed and photographed in the refrigerators on premises, the documents state.
Documents state Stehenson also provided a sworn statement that he purchases alcoholic beverages from retailers during the “slow season” when he cannot meet the minimum purchase amounts distributors require, according to documents.
Investigators left a record request with Chase’s to obtain all alcoholic beverage invoices from the previous six months, which was later provided on June 20, 2025, documents state.
“Upon review, there were 35 types of alcoholic beverages, including beer and liquor, observed at the licensed premises on May 27, 2025 that were not identified on the alcoholic beverage invoices from the prior six months,” the report reads.
Middlemiss and Stephenson were found to be in violation of Section 118 of the Alcoholic Beverage Control Law and sections 54.1 and 54.2 of the Rules of the State Liquor Authority.
Penalties for the alleged infractions include a maximum penalty of revocation, cancellation or suspension of the license, as well as a $3,000 fine.
Owners asked employees to buy alcohol for resale
In text messages shared with North Country This Week, Stephenson was alleged to have asked multiple employees to purchase cases of beer before coming to work with the intention of reselling said beer.
“Can you grab a (case of) Bud Light?” Stephenson allegedly wrote
The employee in question agreed, with Stephenson then responding “Maybe a Blue Light also if you can.”
In the text messages, Stephenson is alleged to have told the employee to pay themself “back out of the drawer tonight.”
On another occasion, Stephenson is alleged to have requested the same employee also pick up a case of “Blue Light and a Mich Ultra” on their way into work.
A third instance saw Stephenson request the employee buy a case of Michelob Ultra again, however the employee declined by saying, “I don’t have enough for that…”.
During the recent Louisville Town Board meeting, many residents raised similar concerns, with at least three attesting to the validity of the claims found in the text messages.
Emails shared with North Country This Week, which were also shared with at least one town board member, also detailed the claims.
No response was offered by any board member as to the claims, either via email or during the public comment period of the meeting.
Residents raise concerns about working conditions
Others raised concerns about the working conditions at Chase’s Riverside Dining, saying the restaurant had paid employees “under the table” and further alleged workers had paid into Social Security and unemployment without receiving such benefits.
In emails sent to board members, which were shared with North Country This Week with a wide variety of allegations including that the restaurant was not carrying the necessary insurance and liquor license, asking if that liability would fall back to the town.
One employee also wrote that she was unable to receive any support while being on maternity leave, saying when she filed for benefits while on maternity leave she was informed by state employees she “wasn’t even in the system.”
North Country This Week could not immediately confirm the allegations.
Legault said the town “had a contract” with the restaurant but did not elaborate further.
“So if I cut my hand off on the meat cutter, who would I sue?” the resident asked.
“I would assume you would sue everyone in that case,” Legault said.
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Dining and Cooking