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Owners of Chocolate Lounge allege mayor promised liquor license; family says they will pursue legal action
Summary
Owners of the Chocolate Lounge told the board they were denied a liquor license after investing in a business build-out and said the mayor had verbally promised approval. The owner and family members said they will pursue legal remedies; trustees reiterated that liquor licenses are issued by the mayor’s office and moved no formal action.
At the public-comment portion of the April 20 Committee of the Whole, Aisha Robinson, owner of the Chocolate Lounge, said the village denied her a liquor license despite her efforts to gather resident and trustee support.
"I was denied again for my liquor license," Robinson said, describing conversations with village officials and saying she had been asked to obtain resident and trustee feedback. She said she complied, attended meetings and built out the venue based on a verbal commitment she believes she received from the mayor.
Her son, Cantrell Durrell, said the mayor "reneged" on a promise and that the family has held more than 15 events without incident while paying event fees. "You told her if she locked the business in... you'll give her a business and a liquor license. That is not true," Durrell said, asserting there is a witness to the original commitment.
Robinson’s husband, Lauren Robinson, described the family’s long community ties and said the denial was a personal and economic blow.
Trustees at the meeting declined to overrule the mayor’s authority. Several trustees explained that the mayor’s office is responsible for issuing liquor licenses and that trustees could provide feedback but do not make final licensing decisions. The mayor and trustees did not record a formal vote or reversal at the Committee session; instead, the conversation was a public airing and the mayor’s office was asked to follow up.
The owner said she has collected evidence (video, texts and a recorded phone call she described on the record) and plans to pursue legal remedies if the matter is not resolved; the board directed the owner to provide contact information to Mr. Covington for follow-up from village staff.
Next steps: the village staff will follow up with the business owner, and the owner indicated intent to consult counsel and potentially initiate litigation if the licensing decision is not changed.
Attribution note: Quotes and allegations in this article are attributed to speakers who identified themselves during public comment.
