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Council tables 2 Dimes liquor application after public safety concerns over 1,500-capacity venue
Summary
The council’s licensing committee agreed to send the 2 Dimes club liquor class 2 application to next week’s public safety meeting after police and fire officials raised concerns about late-night crowd “dump outs” from a proposed 1,500-capacity venue; the applicant said concerts would typically end by 10–11 p.m. and plans to open Aug. 1.
The Tuscaloosa City licensing committee voted Wednesday to table an application from 2 Dimes Venue LLC for an on-premises club liquor class 2 license and to refer the matter to next week’s public safety committee and city council public hearing. The motion to table passed on a voice vote.
Police and fire officials urged more review after staff said the venue’s proposed maximum occupancy could reach 1,500. Police Chief Blakely warned that “if it's an earlier dump out, say, 11:00 ... midnight to 02:00 hour” the strip becomes a problem area because other bars are also emptying at that time.
Fire Marshal Stans said the fire department has set the 1,500 figure based on submitted drawings and life-safety reviews and noted the owners submitted plans for additional mezzanines that increased the occupant load. Stans said upgrades are under way to reach that capacity.
Grant McCabe, a partner in the 2 Dimes application, said the owners have contracted Peachtree Entertainment, a national booking agency, and that most acts will begin around 7–8 p.m. and end “around anywhere from hours of about 10 to 11.” McCabe said the group can coordinate event schedules with city public safety to reduce simultaneous “dump outs.”
Committee members also discussed the city’s public service fee for venues above certain capacities. A staff member noted the public service fee historically applied to venues able to host events over 1,000; the council recently amended section 2-103 to apply the fee to venues above 1,500. Staff said the fee is currently charged as a per-ticket add-on and that the applicant would need to account for it if ticketed events exceed the applicable threshold.
The applicant indicated a target internal completion date of Aug. 1 for the upgrades. The committee made no final licensing decision and left the matter to public safety staff and the full council for action.
