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Commission renews Sidecar and Slice & Shift liquor licenses after police and owners report improved communications
Summary
After a public hearing that included repeated resident noise complaints, the commission approved 2026 liquor-license renewals for two downtown restaurants on condition of continued cooperation with police. Owners pledged improved contact protocols; one resident urged volume and speaker adjustments.
The Birmingham City Commission voted March 9 to approve renewals of class C liquor licenses for downtown restaurants that had been called back for review after police reports of disturbances.
Captain Mike Simpson of the police investigations unit told commissioners the police department has held productive meetings with both businesses and is satisfied that the "minor" issues raised earlier this year have been addressed. Owners Zaid Alaya (220 Merrill) and Steven Simon (Sidecar / Slice and Shift) told the commission they updated on-call contact information, revised management protocols and agreed to act immediately when police contact them.
A resident who lives directly above one of the establishments said the noise and bass vibrations from evening music have driven him to contact police dozens of times since 2020 and urged the commission to consider stricter enforcement or mitigation. "It's the noise of the music," he said, describing vibrations through the ceiling that interfered with sleep.
The restaurant owner said live music is typically solo performers inside Thursday through Saturday from about 7 to 10 p.m., and that the business will meet with the resident, test in-unit sound levels and adjust speaker placement and volume. Commissioners said the renewal is contingent on full cooperation with the police department going forward; one commissioner described the hearing process as an effective compliance step when businesses and police coordinate.
Action taken: the commission adopted a resolution to renew the restaurants' 2026 liquor licenses. Commissioners emphasized that future renewals will be evaluated on documented cooperation with police and responsiveness to resident complaints.
What to watch: staff and police will monitor follow-up compliance; residents were encouraged to use the owners' direct contact lines and to document subsequent incidents if problems persist.
