6 Months and $500,000: Eataly's Sentence

Eataly, The New York City emporium for all Italian things for food and wine, got the hammer dropped on them by The New York State Liquor Authority. Crain's New York Business reports that for violating a state liquor law that does not allow the owners of a retail shop to also import or manufacture wine, Eataly will have to close its wine store for six months plus pay a $500,000 fine.

One of the owners, Joe Bastianich, has a winery in Fruili, the eponymously named Bastianich Winery. Co-owners are Bastianich's mother, Lidia, and celebrity chef Mario Batali.

The news could have been more dire. Crain's details, "The liquor authority charged Mr. Batali lied or 'suppressed information' about the wholesale and manufacturing interests of his business partners. Both offenses could have resulted in the revocation of the store's license."

No date has yet to be set for the wine shop to close.