Council schedules Jan. 21 hearing on possible cancellation of Crush Ultra Lounge liquor license

The Omaha City Council voted 6–1 on Jan. 14 to set a hearing to consider whether to cancel the Class C liquor license for Crush Ultra Lounge following a series of police tavern reports alleging repeated disturbances, assaults and after‑hours service at the venue in the Old Market. The hearing was scheduled for Tuesday, Jan. 21, at 1 p.m.

David Grama of the city attorney’s office told the council the law committee requested the resolution under Omaha city code “section fifteen‑thirty 3” to determine whether a formal hearing is warranted. “The purpose of the resolution is to determine whether it's necessary to set a hearing to potentially cancel the liquor license for Crush,” Grama said, noting the law committee received multiple police and tavern reports dating from April through December 2024.

The law department and council members summarized a list of incidents included in the resolution. Matt Coosy of the Law Department read the dates and short descriptions that appear in the resolution, including allegations such as “open containers on licensed premises after closing hours,” “assault and battery and disturbances inside and outside the premises,” a reported shooting outside the premises on Sept. 29, 2024, and a Dec. 21, 2024, entry listing “felony assault, stabbing, theft of a firearm, destruction of city property and disturbances inside outside of the premises.”

Councilmember Melton, chair of the law committee, said the committee and Omaha Police Department had repeatedly called the owners in to try to correct the behavior. “We don't call these hearings lightly,” Melton said. “Sometimes it's the last resort.” Begley, a fellow law committee member, said the pattern appears to have worsened and that the committee was moving the matter to a hearing where Crush would have the opportunity to present a defense.

Councilmembers emphasized that setting the resolution simply schedules a hearing at which all evidence will be presented and that the hearing, not today’s vote, will be the forum for weighing proof and testimony. Grama said the tavern reports cited in the resolution will be provided to the council and the licensee before the hearing so the parties and council members can review the documents in advance.

The council’s roll call on the resolution produced a 6–1 vote to set the hearing. The minutes show the motion passed with six affirmative votes and one negative; the motion did not adopt sanctions and only scheduled the hearing at which the council will decide whether to proceed further.

The hearing will allow the city to present evidence and give Crush Ultra Lounge an opportunity to respond before the council considers any action concerning the license.