Akron council votes 9–4 to object to liquor permit renewal for 808 West Market Street

Akron City Council voted 9–4 to file a local objection to the renewal application for the liquor permit of 808 West Market Street, a Highland Square tavern, setting the matter up for a state Division of Liquor Control hearing later this year or next.

Sponsor Councilperson Wilson said the objection is intended to prompt a formal hearing, not to immediately close the business, and said multiple attempts over months to resolve problems with the premise had failed. "There are significant issues," Wilson said, urging colleagues to move forward with a local objection while leaving room to withdraw it if the parties reach an agreement before the state hearing.

A city public-safety official responding to council questions said the tavern generated roughly 40 calls for service over the last two years, including about 18 fight calls and seven incidents in the most recent two months. The official also reported that the premise was recently found to be operating with an altered occupancy certificate, which led to overcrowding complaints.

Attorney Cheng Yi Ao, representing Highland Tavern, said the owner was notified only days earlier of the city's intent to object and asked council to postpone the resolution to allow time to review evidence obtained by public-record request. "We believe there is no evidence to show that Highland Tavern has a higher crime rate compared to other bars in Highland Square," Cheng said, and asked that the council postpone the vote until the tavern had an adequate opportunity to respond.

Jessica Williams, who identified herself as the tavern owner, told the council her business follows safety procedures and disputed that the problems at issue were caused inside the bar. "We do everything we can to keep people inside of our business safe," she said, asking the city to focus enforcement on street problems and on holding parents accountable for underage behavior.

Several council members said they were sympathetic to the need for due process. Councilman Garrett questioned whether fights occurring outside the bar should be the primary basis for an objection and suggested more time to confer with the owner. Councilman Hannah urged caution based on past cases where similar issues escalated without immediate closure. Councilman Bolden, citing prior experience in his ward, said the objection process is an appropriate tool to seek resolution and supported the measure.

Council voted to suspend the rules to take up the item and then approved the resolution on roll call, with recorded votes as read into the record: Holden, Boyse, Connor, Davis, Kamer, Lombardo, McKittrick, Amobian and Wilson voted aye; Garrett, Greer, Hannah and Somerville voted nay. The local objection will be forwarded to the state Division of Liquor Control, which will set a hearing; the city and the license holder will have opportunities to present evidence and attempt negotiated resolutions before any state ruling.

The council's objection is a procedural step that allows the Division of Liquor Control to schedule a hearing; the resolution's passage does not itself revoke the license. Councilmembers noted the objection can be withdrawn if the parties reach an agreement before the state hearing.