Anniston council revokes Pierce Sports Bar & Grill license after city presents police data and video evidence

ANNISTON, Ala. — The Anniston City Council voted Tuesday to revoke the business license of Pierce Sports Bar & Grill following a public hearing in which city staff presented police-call data and body-camera footage they said demonstrated a persistent public-safety problem at the establishment.

City Manager Mr. Downing told the council the city reviewed police activity dating back to 2016 and identified ‘‘more than 450 calls for service during operating hours’’ across ownership and management changes, including assaults, weapons incidents and multiple disturbance calls. Downing said staff also included fire-marshal inspection findings and seven municipal-court citations for alcohol-related violations as part of the packet presented to the council.

‘‘This volume alone demonstrates that Club Pure is a return draw for police intervention, generates issues during normal business operations, and has not achieved sustainable compliance over time,’’ Downing said during the presentation, summarizing the city’s case that the establishment disproportionately burdens police resources and poses an ongoing safety risk.

Police staff showed footage from multiple body-camera angles and described incidents beginning in May and including an event on Thanksgiving night. The videos and the call-history analysis formed the core of the city’s argument that the business meets municipal nuisance criteria and warrants license revocation.

Representatives for the business — identified in the record as operating as Pierce Sports Bar & Grill (also referenced in the hearing as Pierce Court Bar and Grill and colloquially as "Pure") — disputed the characterization of ongoing noncompliance and detailed steps they said have been implemented to address security and safety. An owner or manager who spoke to the council described upgrades including ID scanners at entry that flag banned patrons, a permanent ban policy for violent actors, stricter dress-code enforcement, stadium-bag restrictions and professional security staffing.

‘‘We can’t control people. What we can control is the system that we put in place to control the misconduct and the action of people,’’ the owner said, describing new incident-reporting procedures and technology intended to reduce repeat problems.

Employees and neighbors offered mixed testimony during public comment. Some employees said working conditions and management practices had improved and urged the council to weigh the economic and employment impacts of a shutdown; other residents and neighbors urged revocation or at least suspension, citing the documented pattern of police calls and public-safety threats.

Council members spent the following discussion period weighing the legal standard they must apply — ‘‘substantial evidence’’ — and whether a suspension with conditions could address the city’s concerns. After deliberation, a council member moved to revoke the establishment’s business license. The clerk conducted a roll call and the presiding official declared the license revoked, stating for the record that ‘‘all business activity shall cease immediately.’’

The council then moved on to other items on the agenda, approving a $23,810 amendment to FY-26 travel appropriations for mayor and council and adopting an updated purchasing policy, among other consent items. Minutes of the meeting show the council adjourned into an executive session to discuss real-property negotiations and preliminary trade or commerce negotiations.

What’s next: The revocation order was entered at the meeting; the transcript noted that the license holder may seek judicial review under state law. The council did not announce a subsequent review date; the city attorney and clerk may provide procedural guidance to the license holder about next steps and appeals.

Votes at a glance - Business license for Pierce Sports Bar & Grill: Revoked (council vote; meeting record states business activities to cease immediately). - FY-26 travel budget amendment for mayor and council: $23,810 increase — adopted. - Coca-Cola fundraiser reimbursements/donations: $224.63 — adopted. - Updated city purchasing policy: Adopted.