Two Godfrey Bars Move Weekend Closing Time to 1 A.M.

GODFREY — Two Godfrey bars, Sonny’s Wedge Bar and Ropers Regal Beagle, have announced they will begin closing at 1 a.m. on Fridays and Saturdays, effective immediately.

Madison County Sheriff’s deputies responded at 3:34 a.m. Saturday, Aug. 1, 2026, to a reported fight at Sonny’s Wedge Bar property in the 900 block of West Delmar. Authorities said one person appeared injured, several vehicles sped away, and one driver was later detained in Alton.

In a statement, Sonny’s Wedge Bar said the decision followed “several incidents that have taken place during closing time over the past few months.”

“This wasn’t an easy choice, but the safety of our employees and the loyal customers who support us every week will always come first,” the business said. “We hope that, as circumstances improve, we will be able to return to our regular 3 a.m. closing hours in the future.”

Ropers Regal Beagle also said it would immediately begin closing at 1 a.m. on Fridays and Saturdays.

“Following other businesses’ decisions, activity past 1 a.m. due to closures in other cities has caused chaos and a complete lack of respect for people, and most importantly our employees,” the business said. “We are stopping it before it happens, sorry folks.”

Godfrey Mayor Mike McCormick said he supports the two bars’ decisions to close earlier on weekends but wants to see how conditions develop before considering an earlier closing time in Godfrey.

“I want to see how it plays out over the next month or so, and we are working hand in hand with the Madison County Sheriff's Department to see how it goes,” McCormick said.

He also said later hours can still serve some customers.

“Sometimes people don’t get off until midnight or 1 o’clock, and they want to stop and get a cocktail,” McCormick said. “If someone comes and sits in a parking lot and drinks their own booze, then that is a problem.”

Mayor McCormick said Godfrey has requested increased patrols by the Madison County Sheriff’s Office in business parking lots during the early morning hours to deter future problems.

Madison County Chief Sheriff’s Deputy Marcos Pulido said deputies arrived at Sonny’s Wedge Bar and saw “a subject who appeared to have an injury that was sustained during the fight.”

“Several vehicles began leaving at a high rate of speed, including a vehicle that was identified as being involved in this fight,” Pulido said. “That vehicle fled from a deputy, but that subject was detained without further incident in the Oakwood Estates of Alton.”

Pulido said there were no serious injuries in the Saturday incident. He said the investigation is ongoing and that criminal charges will be presented to the Madison County State’s Attorney’s Office in the future.

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