Renewal objections to 19 establishments headed to Ohio Liquor Control Board through Council vote
[COLUMBUS, OH] As Council works to improve Columbus neighborhoods, it’s critical to confront establishments across the City that hinder the betterment of the community. One of Council’s tools is objecting to liquor license renewals for businesses with a record of complaints and violations.
Each year, municipalities across Ohio have the opportunity to submit objections to applications for liquor permit renewals to the State of Ohio Liquor Control Board. This objection process is a community-driven partnership between the Columbus City Attorney, Columbus Division of Police, and Columbus City Council to identify establishments that have violated Ohio liquor law or have proven to be a community nuisance.
“Preventing the sale of alcohol at these establishments can have significant positive impact on the safety and quality of life in our Columbus neighborhoods,” said Councilmember Mitchell J. Brown. “I do not take this process lightly and understand the consequences of these objections, but I will always advocate on behalf of Columbus residents to promote safe, clean communities.”
Objections to liquor permit renewals are based on evidence of under-age alcohol sales, failing to follow the terms of the liquor permit, violent crime, police calls for service, and drug activity.
“The City Attorney’s Office works throughout the year to identify unsafe conditions and high levels of crime happening at problematic businesses, and build cases that show how they are harming the community,” said Columbus City Attorney Zach Klein. “To hold those businesses accountable for breaking the law, we are glad to partner with City Council and present the evidence to support of their objections to the Division of Liquor Control. As always, we thank our partners in code enforcement, law enforcement, health officials, and the many community members and advocates who help us gather the evidence needed to keep Columbus residents safe from these nuisance properties.”
Through this year’s process, community members, the Columbus City Attorney, Columbus Division of Police, and State Investigative Unit have identified 19 local establishments of concern to the overall health of our neighborhoods.
During the Council meeting on Monday, November 15, 2021, Council will move forward with a vote on the following resolutions to formally object to the renewal of liquor licenses for these establishments:
0195X-2021: Shell/Livingston Shell – 1937 E. Livingston Ave.
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With the highest number of calls for service this year among the objections, this location has seen a myriad of incidents and calls for service ranging from homicide, shootings, stabbings, robberies, intoxicated individuals needing assistance, narcotics possession, and overdoses. Since October 2020, CFD has been called to the location to provide medical treatment for nine (9) persons suffering from overdoses.
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Calls for Service over 2020/2021: 372
0195X-2021: Beverage Warehouse – 847 E. 11th Ave.
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Police have been called to the location for multiple incidents involving gunplay, including homicide, shots fired, and weapons offenses, in addition to dispatches for medical treatment for persons suffering from an overdose. Additionally, CPD and the Ohio Investigative Unit jointly cited the location for underage sales violations.
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Calls for Service over 2020/2021: 56
0196X-2021: Whittier Market – 917 E. Whittier St.
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Columbus Division of Police has made arrests for multiple shootings (including a homicide), robberies, and drug possession at this location. Additional, the calls for service include shots fired, narcotics complaints, medical treatment for those suffering from overdoses, and disturbances involving intoxicated individuals. Community members have also voiced their concerns about the operation of this establishment due to the above activity and alleged prostitution.
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Calls for Service over 2020/2021: 61
0197X-2021: United Dairy Farmers #634 – 1680 N. High St.
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This establishment has seen a high level of activity, including responses to persons with guns/knives, fights, robberies, narcotics complaints, and various disturbances involving intoxicated individuals. Police reports at the location include multiple felony assaults and robberies.
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Calls for Service over 2020/2021: 191
0198X-2021: United Dairy Farmers #649 – 530 S. Hague Ave.
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A significant number of police and fire runs to this location involve crimes of violence, narcotics, prostitution, and persons needing medical assistance for overdoses. CFD alone has been dispatched to the location fifty-four (54) times, including to provide medical treatment for eight (8) persons suffering from overdoses, and of the 59 police reports, since January 2020, there have been multiple robberies, intoxicated persons needing assistance, open container violations, and drug offenses.
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Calls for Service over 2020/2021: 262
0200X-2021: Sunoco – 2725 W. Broad St.
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Police have been dispatched to this location for multiple felony assaults, robberies, additional gun play, drug offenses and narcotics complaints, persons suffering from overdoses, sexual assault, and underage tobacco sales. Columbus Fire also separately responded to eight (8) persons suffering from overdoses at the location.
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Calls for Service over 2020/2021: 144
0204X-2021: Speedway #1216 – 6175 E. Livingston Ave.
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Police have been called to multiple reports of shootings, robberies, assaults, and other crimes involving weapons at the location. Additional runs and reports include a homicide, persons needing medical assistance for an overdose, narcotics complaints, and disturbances involving intoxicated individuals. Since October 2020, CFD has been called to this location to assist eleven (11) individuals suffering from an overdose.
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Calls for Service over 2020/2021: 298
0206X-2021: Moments Grill and Lounge – 2545 Petzinger Rd.
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The City objected to the renewal of the liquor permit at this location in November 2020, which has not yet been set for a full hearing. In the meantime, the City Attorney’s Office brought a nuisance abatement action in April 2021, which resulted in the temporary closure of the location after additional shootings at the Premises. The establishment is open now under an Agreed Court Order, which includes deadlines for moving from the location within the month. The City lodged the objection due to past liquor law violations and multiple incidents of gunfire and violence, many of which have continued into 2021. Additional runs since last year’s objection involve violence, recovered firearms, and intoxicated individuals
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Calls for Service over 2020/2021: 118
0207X-2021: Mobile Mart – 830 Parsons Ave.
- The City objected to the renewal of the liquor permit at this location in November 2020, which has not yet been set for a full hearing. Community concerns at this location leading into last year’s objection led to multiple arrest for narcotics related offenses. The City also objected due to a homicide that occurred at the location in 2020, and the dispatch of the Division of Fire to provide medical treatment for individuals suffering from an overdose. In 2021, the location continued to have multiple robberies.
- Calls for Service over 2020/2021: 35
0208X-2021: Pay Less Auto Service (Marathon) – 744 E. Hudson St.
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The City objected to the renewal of the liquor permit at this location in November 2020, which has not been set for a full hearing. Currently, the business is under a preliminary injunction in Environmental Court, that mandates certain hours, security levels, and lighting for the premises. The objection was lodged last year stemming from community complaints and arrests for assaults, narcotics, solicitation, and weapons offenses at the location. The business was also cited in 2020 for underage sales violations. Over 2021, offenses include felony assaults, shootings, robberies, drug offenses, and persons suffering from overdoses.
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Calls for Service over 2020/2021: 256
0210X-2021: Convenient Plus Food Mart – 3351 E. Main St.
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The City objected to the renewal of the liquor permit at this location in November 2020, which has not been set for a full hearing. Last year, police had been called to multiple reports of gunfire at this location, in addition to suspected gang activity, narcotics complaints, and medical treatment for persons suffering from an overdose. Over 2021, activity has improved, but there have still been multiple robberies at the Premises since last year’s objection.
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Calls for Service over 2020/2021: 59
0211X-2021: Ameristop – 4432 Walford St.
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In December 2020, the City also objected to a permit transfer request at this location, but it has not been set for a full hearing. This objection was based on multiple reports of robbery and drug sales/possession at the Premises. Since the previous objection, there have been multiple incidents of violence and additional underage liquor sales.
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Calls for Service over 2020/2021: 39
0212X-2021: Wheatland Foods – 1432 Mt. Vernon Ave.
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The City objected to both the renewal of the liquor permit at this location in November 2020, and a September 2020 request to transfer of the ownership of the permit. Both requests have not yet been heard by the Division of Liquor Control. Last year, community complaints concerning this location led to multiple narcotics related arrests, in addition to robberies. Over 2021, offenses include underage sales of liquor and additional robberies, while CFD has responded to multiple instances of persons suffering from overdoses at the location.
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Calls for Service over 2020/2021: 41
0213X-2021: Weber Road Market – 900 E. Weber Rd.
- In May 2021, the City also objected to a permit transfer request at this location, which has not yet been set for a full hearing. This objection was based on multiple homicides, arrests for prostitution, assault, and additional weapons offenses, in addition to community complaints. CPD runs to the location also include robberies, intoxicated persons needing assistance, and treatment for persons suffering from overdoses.
- Calls for Service over 2020/2021: 49
0214X-2021:Thirsty Drive Thru – 4027 Livingston Ave.
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In June and September 2021, the City objected to two separate permit transfer requests at this location, but neither objection has been set for a hearing. The objection was based on community and CPD patrol concerns, underage liquor sales in 2020 and 2021, and a homicide in December 2020. Additional calls for service in 2021 include intoxicated individuals needing assistance and motor vehicle theft.
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Calls for Service over 2020/2021: 12
0215X-2021: P.J’s Grill – 15 E. Frambes Ave.
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The City objected to the renewal of the liquor permit at this location in November 2020, which has not been set for a full hearing. The objection was lodged based on investigations by the Ohio Investigative Unit and the Columbus City Attorney has uncovered fifty-one (51) reports of underage sales and other Ohio liquor law violations from 2019-2020. The location has continued to have underage sales violations in 2021.
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Calls for Service over 2020/2021: 10
0216X-2021: Parkview Bar – 5200 Riding Club Ln.
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In June 2021, the City also objected to a permit transfer request at this location, which has not yet been set for a hearing. The objection was lodged due to concerns from CPD patrol due to shootings, weapons offenses, shots fired, and other gunplay; frequent incidents of felony theft; and disturbances. Additional runs to the location include intoxicated persons needing assistance, loud noise complaints, and assaults.
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Calls for Service over 2020/2021: 32
0217X-2021: Save Way Mini Mart – 2585 W. Broad St.
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This establishment has seen significant illegal activity, including felony assault, shots fired, a stabbing, persons suffering from overdoses, robberies, narcotics complaints, and weapons offenses. Community members also have expressed concerns about the activity on the lot of this location. Since October 2020, Columbus Fire has been called to the location to provide medical treatment to seven (7) persons suffering from overdoses.
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Calls for Service over 2020/2021: 114
0219X-2021: Marathon/Westland Shell Car Wash – 2805 W. Broad St.
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Police and fire runs to this location have been significant, including persons with guns/knives, robberies, shots fired, narcotics complaints, persons suffering from overdoses, and disturbances. CFD has been called to the property to provide medical treatment for nine (9) persons suffering from overdoses. Additional arrests at the location include robbery, drug possession, stabbings, and additional weapons offenses.
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Calls for Service over 2020/2021: 240
