Mobile County holds public hearing after neighbors raise safety, noise and traffic concerns at Alabama Bar on Airport Boulevard

Mobile County Commission members held a public hearing March 24 to gather testimony about public‑safety concerns tied to JJKJ LLC doing business as the Rolling Tide, also known in public filings and in testimony as the Alabama Bar and Lounge, at 10071 Airport Boulevard in West Mobile.

Neighbors and nearby residents told the commission the establishment has been associated with repeated disturbances, two homicides referenced in testimony, loud music and late closing hours that they say contribute to reckless driving and other public‑safety problems. Joseph Johnson, the bar owner, told commissioners he has operated the Alabama Bar for years, said he has no criminal background and defended the business as a neighborhood sports and karaoke bar. The commission closed the hearing after taking testimony and said it will take the information under advisement.

The hearing proceeded under agenda item 3 after the commission set ground rules and allotted four minutes per speaker. Joseph Johnson, identified in the record as the owner of the Alabama Bar, opened by expressing sympathy for victims of violence in the community and by stressing his personal record: “I have no criminal background, and to be completely honest, I don't have any traffic tickets either,” he said, and told the commission the bar is “a neighborhood sports karaoke bar” where many patrons come to socialize. Johnson said the ABC (Alcoholic Beverage Control) board conducts background checks to vet liquor‑license holders and that his establishment has not received underage‑drinking violations during his five liquor license terms. He said he plans to “close a little earlier” on weekends to try to reduce late‑night incidents.

Several nearby residents described repeated disturbances. Ralph Henry Sheffield, who gave his address as 10051 C Airport Boulevard and said he lives about 50 feet east of the bar, listed multiple problems including loud music that shakes his windows and what he described as a lack of on‑site security: “The problem with the bar, primarily, is there's not a doorman enforcer,” Sheffield said. He also told commissioners he timed a police response to a reported assault and said officers took about 26 minutes to arrive.

Nick McDonald, who said he is the president of the Dominion homeowners association and lives roughly 200–300 yards from the establishment, told the commission the neighborhood has seen multiple 911 calls, reported fights and disturbances tied to the bar and at least two homicides that neighbors associate with patrons or incidents originating near the business. McDonald summarized neighbors’ concerns as a collective pattern that has given the bar “a bad reputation” and urged the commission to consider ways to improve safety for residents.

Ryan Lindsey said he was the victim of a hit‑and‑run in January that he attributed to a driver leaving the bar’s parking area; he described lasting injuries and frustration with efforts to get information from the business and said staff blocked his number after an initial inquiry. “That bar does not have a good reputation,” Lindsey told the commission, and urged action to protect families, including youth who travel the corridor.

Johnson disputed some claims and said he provides camera footage on request: “We do have a ... really good camera system. Our security system is open for anybody that needs to come and look at our cameras at any time,” he said, and added that footage had been provided to a detective in a separate incident. He acknowledged he could do more “within my budget” to reduce risks but said he did not control broader community violence and noted other city sites have seen shootings.

County officials told speakers the hearing was fact‑finding and that no immediate enforcement action would be taken during the meeting. The presiding official closed the public hearing after testimony and said the commission would take the information under advisement and may hold further meetings to discuss follow‑up or options, including meetings between the owner, county staff and residents.

Votes at a glance The commission considered and moved a long series of agenda items after the public hearing. The meeting record shows motions, seconds and apparent approvals in open session for the items below; the meeting minutes will carry the final vote tallies. • Adopt substantial amendment to the program year 2024 HOME program action plan (agenda item 5) — motion carried. • Approve extension to subrecipient agreement with Housing First under the Emergency Solutions Grant (agenda item 6) — motion carried. • Approve a professional services agreement with Catalyst ($2,250) to rebuild indexes in the Landmark database (agenda item 7) — motion carried. • Authorize letter of support and a grant application to the Alabama State Council on the Arts for the Strickland Youth Center mural and children’s gallery project (agenda items 8–9) — motions carried. • Approve declaration of restrictive covenants, release of existing flood claims and waiver of future flood claims for property at 3780 River Road by Ansley Family Irrevocable Trust (agenda item 10) — motion carried. • Approve application for a class 2 lounge retail liquor license for Al’s Liquor (agenda item 11) — motion carried. • Accept grant awards from the Alabama Department of Economic and Community Affairs and related local matches for Stop Violence Against Women Act prosecution programs (agenda items 12 and 38) — motions carried. • Multiple community sponsorships and education appropriations including Spencer Westlawn Elementary ($20,000), Mary B. Austin Elementary ($20,000) and other district sponsorships (agenda items 13–20) — motions carried. • Accept transfer of conservation land from The Nature Conservancy as required by a grant agreement (agenda item 21) — motion carried. • Contract amendments, renewals and professional service approvals for county IT, parks and planning work, including amendments to design and master‑plan contracts and multiple annual software and maintenance renewals (agenda items 22–37, 27–36, 47–51) — motions carried. • Award construction and paving bids (agenda items 45–46) and approve right‑of‑way and easement agreements connected to several drainage and paving projects (agenda items 43, 47, 51) — motions carried. • Add‑on: authorize execution of release of claims form for the Mount Vernon project as required by the Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources subaward agreement — motion carried. • Add‑on: approve an intergovernmental agreement between Mobile County and the City of Mobile to provide funding noted in the agenda as a total of $7,500,000 to be paid annually over a 10‑year period (agenda add‑on 2); the motion passed subject to final legal review. The meeting record shows $7,500,000 as the total; payment schedule language in the meeting audio was not fully clear in the transcript and is recorded in the county backup as the controlling text subject to final legal review.

No formal enforcement action (for example, immediate license revocation) on JJKJ LLC or its Alabama liquor license was taken at the March 24 meeting. County staff and commissioners indicated they may pursue follow‑up meetings and fact‑finding and could meet with the owner, county attorney and residents to discuss mitigation steps.

What happens next The commission closed the public hearing and said it will consider the submitted testimony and any related evidence before deciding whether to pursue formal enforcement, licensing referrals or other actions. Commissioners said staff will compile the hearing record and that further discussions or meetings are likely.