Cleveland councilman targets TownHall liquor license
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Cleveland City Councilman Austin Davis is asking the state to reject TownHall's liquor license renewal, citing owner Bobby George's recent felony conviction.
Why it matters: Under Ohio law, the Division of Liquor Control may deny a permit renewal if a felony conviction is reasonably related to a business owner's fitness to hold a liquor license.
The intrigue: George pleaded guilty in November to attempted strangulation, a fifth-degree felony, after originally facing charges including attempted murder, kidnapping, felonious assault and rape.
- He was sentenced to five years of probation.
The big picture: TownHall has become a flashpoint for political and cultural controversy, drawing protests in Cleveland and Columbus while remaining a magnet for athletes, influencers and politicians.
The latest: Davis announced this week in his Ward 7 newsletter that he is formally objecting to TownHall's annual liquor permit renewal, triggering a state review process.
What they're saying: The incident that led to George's charges "cannot be reduced to a footnote in the history of West 25th Street," Davis wrote.
- "We know better, and we can say clearly that some things cannot be shrugged off, lawyered away, or quietly pushed through. ... There can be no quarter for domestic violence, here or anywhere."
The other side: Reached for comment by Axios, George offered a response inspired by Drake's song "Janice STFU."
- "Just another loser fan of me trying to get big off my name," he wrote via text. "These boys got big off my name, that's big enough."
What's next: Davis said he expects the review process with the Ohio Division of Liquor Control to be lengthy, but encouraged residents with "concerns about TownHall" to participate as the case advances.