Sheriff urges suspension of Tiffany’s Eatery alcohol and restaurant licenses after repeated code and public-safety complaints

The Richmond County Sheriff’s Office asked the county commission to consider suspending the alcohol and restaurant licenses for Tiffany’s Eatery and Lounge at 828 Broad Street after deputies recorded multiple violations and public disturbances this year.

Sheriff Brantley told the commission his deputies documented “serving alcohol past hours,” indoor smoking, large unruly crowds, illegal cover charges at the door being used to inflate “food sales,” unpermitted DJ activity and fights that carried outside the business. He told commissioners he had video evidence and a March 28 letter with specific incidents and asked the commission to “move forward with suspending the alcohol and restaurant license … to protect the public and uphold the integrity of our ordinances.”

Why it matters: Commissioners heard that the incidents at Tiffany’s have increased since the business obtained a provisional Sunday-sales privilege late last year. Planning and Development recommended revoking the Sunday-sales privilege pending further action; the sheriff and several commissioners urged more extensive measures, saying deputy safety and downtown public safety are at risk.

Deputy Delaney told the committee the Planning and Development Department had recommended denial of the Sunday-sales request because the business had not met state requirements tied to food sales and that the department considered revoking the provisional Sunday-sales approval. She said the sheriff’s office provided the department with a formal letter of documented incidents in February and March.

Owner Florence Henley, who addressed the committee, said Tiffany’s has operated in downtown for five years and disputed the scale of violations reported by law enforcement: "We have been there 5 years without 1 incident," she said, adding the restaurant recently stopped late-night sales after the earlier committee meeting.

Commissioners discussed intermediate enforcement steps. Several members favored revoking Sunday sales and placing the liquor license on probation with concrete conditions (reduced hours, added security) for a specified period. Commissioner Johnson recommended revoking Sunday sales and putting the alcohol license on six-month probation with conditions; Commissioner Scott moved to forward the item without recommendation to the full commission for a final decision.

What happened next: The public-safety committee voted to send the matter to the full commission next week without a recommendation. Commissioners and the sheriff signaled they expect the full commission to consider license suspension or revocation at that meeting.

Clarifying context and details: The sheriff described documented incidents beginning Feb. 15, 2025, and continuing through mid-March, including a March 15 incident that produced an injured patron and outside disturbances. Planning and Development cited the business’s use of cover charges to record food sales as a concern for qualifying for a restaurant-based alcohol license. Department staff and law enforcement said prior warnings had been given to the business.

What’s next: The full commission will take up the license question at its next meeting; commissioners signaled they expect a formal motion to consider suspension of the alcohol and restaurant license.