Omaha City Council votes to recommend Reign Lounge reapply for liquor license
The business owner said the city is targeting him because he's black, but city leaders said they've given him many opportunities to address complaints.
The business owner said the city is targeting him because he's black, but city leaders said they've given him many opportunities to address complaints.
The business owner said the city is targeting him because he's black, but city leaders said they've given him many opportunities to address complaints.
Omaha City Council voted unanimously Tuesday to recommend that Reign Lounge must reapply for a liquor license.
The City of Omaha said since the Reign Lounge near 30th and Fillmore Streets got its liquor license in 2017, there have been 11 tavern reports issued.
“The only reason we're here is because of the large crowds and the disturbances and the parking problems and the shots fired and the homicide and the trash and noise and police resources over a long period of time,” said Councilman Pete Festersen, whose district includes the Reign Lounge.
At Tuesday’s City Council meeting, leaders listened as those living and working near the nightclub shared pictures, videos and reasons they think the business should not get its liquor license renewed.
“We have had problems with parking, broken liquor bottles, used condoms, many other forms of trash,” said Lonnie Albertson, owner of Albertson Brothers Glass, which is next door to the Reign Lounge.
James Overton said the city is targeting his business because of his skin color.
“You all make it a point to make it unwelcoming for our minorities to actually congregate in the city,” said Overton.
Overton added he's done everything the city asked: From building a fence around his parking lot to hiring off-duty officers.
“This is a deterrent,” said Overton. “I've lost money from people not wanting to come there because they figured, like I said, there's a police presence there, and there's been an incident there from the yellow and red tape there every Tuesday, Friday and Saturday.”
An Omaha police captain also testified that officers have spent hundreds of hours responding to calls and patrolling the business.
“We have been trying to make this thing work to be honest with you,” said councilman Rich Pahls.
The city also brought up state taxes and restaurant taxes Overton owed, but he said he's taken care of that.
Next, the owner must go before the liquor commission for a hearing. The commission will decide whether the business must start over on its license application.