Council revokes Emporium South business license after vendors allege widespread nonpayment

The Gadsden City Council voted April 7 to adopt a resolution revoking the business license of Emporium South LLC, a vendor mall at 1019 South Fourth Street, after vendors testified that the business failed to pay dozens of accounts and had withdrawn new license applications while citing bankruptcy.

At a public hearing, Jeremy Miller, who identified himself as a vendor and spoke on behalf of multiple affected sellers, said his wife was owed $3,200 and listed more than two dozen other vendors alleging unpaid balances ranging from several hundred to several thousand dollars. “They never mentioned closing a store. … They owe her $5,100,” Miller said while reading notices and messages vendors had received from the business. He said vendors were blocked from the Emporium’s Facebook page and that the business posted a letter acknowledging debts but offering no firm payment plan.

The hearing was limited to whether the city should revoke any license issued to Emporium South LLC for failure to pay business license fees and sales tax. Revenue staff told the council the parties had withdrawn pending business‑license applications filed under alternate LLC names and that staff would recommend against approving new licenses for the same individuals while the matter is under review. Revenue Director Laura Copelan said the revocation under consideration applies to the existing license only and that the city had no pending applications from the parties at this time.

Mayor Ford and several council members expressed concern for the vendors, including people who rely on booth sales for supplemental income. Councilman Wilson said public testimony and the record will be valuable to vendors pursuing civil remedies but supported revocation to prevent the parties from operating in Gadsden in the near term.

After public comment, the council moved to adopt the resolution to revoke Emporium South LLC’s business license. The clerk recorded the vote as in favor and the motion carried; no roll‑call tally or named mover/second was recorded on the meeting transcript.

The council’s action removes the existing license; city staff said any future license application by the same individuals would be routed to the council for approval and that staff would watch for applications filed under alternate LLC names. Vendors seeking restitution were directed to pursue civil remedies and complaints filed with state authorities, and several vendors present said they had already filed complaints with the Alabama Attorney General’s office.

The hearing record reflects numerous vendor claims of unpaid wages and sales proceeds and references to a March 18 notice from the business acknowledging debts but not providing a binding repayment schedule. The council did not adjudicate the vendors’ civil claims for unpaid amounts; instead it acted on municipal licensing and tax compliance grounds.