Council unanimously objects to liquor-license renewal after shootings near Merriman Road business

Akron City Council voted 13-0 to adopt a resolution opposing the renewal application of 8 18 LLC, the licensee for a business at 1800 Merriman Road, and asked the Division of Liquor Control to deny the Class D-5 and D-6 permit renewal.

Councilman Boyle and others described a spate of incidents tied to the location since early 2024: Councilman Boyle said the site has had “11 fights, 1 shooting and a felonious assault and 4 noise ordinance violations” earlier in 2024 and that activity increased after a new operator, the Empire Lounge, took over in April 2025. Boyle told the council there had been “4 shootings, 1 shooting that resulted in death” and other disturbances since that change.

Council members cited public-safety and economic-development concerns for the Merriman Valley area and said they wanted to protect investment and new businesses in the corridor. After a motion was made and seconded, the council approved the resolution without recorded opposition.

Why it matters: The council used a formal resolution to register its opposition with the state Division of Liquor Control, a procedural step communities often take when alleging that a licensee’s operations negatively affect neighborhood safety and business development.

What happened next: The resolution passed 13-0. The transcript shows no further council action at the meeting to pursue other local regulatory or licensing steps; the ultimate decision on the liquor permit rests with the Ohio Division of Liquor Control.

Ending: Council members said they want to encourage growth in the Merriman Valley and called the resolution a step to prevent what they described as problematic operations from undermining that effort.