LOUISVILLE, Ky. — Afrokanza Lounge on Bardstown Road announced Monday on Instagram it is closing "effective immediately" after four years of serving the Louisville community.
"It is with a heavy heart that we announce the closure of Afrokanza Lounge effective immediately. After four years of serving the community, we have made the difficult decision to close our doors," Afrokanza said in a social post.
Afrokanza as well as Café 360 next door was a part of a months-long Louisville Alcoholic Beverage Control (ABC) investigation into both establishments.
“Metro ABC has substantiated complaints of a disorderly premises and other violations made against Afrokanza and Café 360,” ABC Director Brad Silveria said in a statement to WHAS11 in June. “We have referred these cases to Code Enforcement to ensure both establishments comply with local regulations.”
Last month, Afrokanza Lounge and Café 360 both received notices of a “criminal activity nuisance violation.”
"We want business to thrive, we want them to be in business, but it’s got to be in the framework of the ordinance and not become a nuisance," said Director of Louisville Metro Government Codes & Regulations. “We’re gonna be aggressive. We’re gonna be aggressive with property maintenance code, with the nuisance ordinance, and we’re gonna make sure that businesses comply with that.”
Price told WHAS11 that Café 360 is still in negotiations with ABC.
Both businesses were told they must meet with Codes and Regulations and find a solution to their issues. If they couldn't reach an agreement, the businesses were warned they could be forced to close or lose their right to sell alcohol.
In a statement to WHAS11 News, Metro ABC said their priority "remains the safety and well-being of the public."
"We recognize their effort to address compliance issues and be a responsible neighbor to the community," Metro ABC said. "We look forward to the pre-hearing conference on Aug. 6 to further address these concerns."
Chris Whigham lives next to Afrokanza, and said life was very different once the lounge opened.
“Dozens and dozens of people would gather right here outside the door. It was so loud. My wife and I even had to purchase noise reduction headphones so we could sleep at night," Whigham said.
He said the announced immediate closure will keep him and his wife living off Bardstown Road.
“Over the last few months we were always contemplating moving, but now I think we’ll stick around a little bit longer," Whigham said.
The criticism first started when 31-year-old Ricky Kemp was shot and killed just a few doors down from the business last July.
A night Katherine Ussery, who lives behind Afrokanza, remembers vividly.
“I was awakened to gunshots, rolled out of bed, scared for my life, calling the police. From what we understand, the gunman came in from this alley that we’re standing in right now because the crowd from Afrokanza was in the alley congregated after they closed down," she said.
Ussery also sees the closure as a step towards heightened safety in the neighborhood.
“We have really been through the ringer," she said. “Even though the wheels of justice seemed to be slow, they did turn eventually in our favor. We’re at the place now where we can enjoy our neighborhood like we’re supposed to enjoy it.”
The concerns for safety have also affected Public House Highlands, which has sat right next to Afrokanza for years.
“Once the late-night violence, the fights, the shootings, the angry guests leaving there, we’ve noticed a decrease in sales," said Public House General Manager Luke Rondot. “We’ve definitely lost some of our local regulars who don’t want to deal with some of that. It’s scary. People have died, people have been robbed.”
District 8 Metro Councilman Ben Reno-Weber also released a statement about the sudden closure of the business.
“We are committed to maintaining a safe and thriving environment for all businesses and patrons in District 8. While I value our local businesses and am dedicated to supporting them, their operations should not come at the detriment of the residents who live here.
The announcement from Afrokanza emphasizes the importance of compliance with our city’s regulations. Ongoing and repeated violations have forced the city to enforce these regulations to ensure the safety and well-being of our residents.
I would like to express my gratitude for the hard work of ABC and Codes & Regulations in upholding Metro ordinances. We remain committed to fostering a business-friendly environment while ensuring that all establishments adhere to the necessary codes and regulations designed to protect the citizens of Louisville.”
Earlier this year, Café 360 voluntarily suspended its extended liquor license for six months after Theodore Brown, 21, was fatally shot at the restaurant in March.
"We want to sincerely thank everyone who supported us, we wish you all the best in the future," Afrokanza management said in a post.
Make it easy to keep up-to-date with more stories like this. Download the WHAS11 News app now. For Apple or Android users.
Have a news tip? Email assign@whas11.com, visit our Facebook page or Twitter feed.