LOUISVILLE, Ky. — A popular bar in the Highlands won't be able to sell alcohol once its licenses expire.
Louisville Metro's Alcoholic Beverage Control (ABC) Department denied Baxter's 942 Bar and Grill's request to renew its liquor licenses on Tuesday.
In a statement to WHAS11, Louisville Metro ABC said the decision came "in light of multiple shootings in the vicinity of Baxter's 942 Bar and Grill in recent months."
"Public safety is our top priority, and after careful consideration of the risks posed by continued operation, we have determined this action is necessary to protect our community," officials said. "Louisville Metro ABC will continue to work with local establishments to ensure the safety and security of our city's nightlife."
According to the denial letter sent to Baxter's, the department said there have been multiple acts of violence near the bar's premises on nights when a particular DJ was hired to perform.
"Louisville Metro Government contends that the proximate cause of these injuries and/or death directly related to the performances," Louisville Metro ABC Director Bradley Silveria explained in the letter.
The department cited a shooting-related assault that occurred a month after two men were killed in a shooting on Aug. 11.
"After the first shooting that took place, based on a reasonable person standard, [the bar] knowingly endangered the community by hiring [the DJ] a second time," Silveria claims.
According to the letter, Silveria said the agency has also received "various communications" from neighbors asking for the application to be denied as well.
The Highland's Metro Councilmember Ben Reno-Weber said these instances don't happen all the time - only when a problem boils over.
"If you read what ABC put out, it's that they don't feel like Baxter's was being good neighbors," Reno-Weber said.
He boasts the Highlands as an "entertainment corridor," but said businesses must stay in line.
"Having a liquor license in our city, particularly after midnight, is privilege not a right," Reno-Weber said. "Our expectations of the people that have that privilege is that they respect all of the laws in our community and that they're good neighbors."
John O'Dwyer organizes the annual St. Patricks' Day parade in the Highlands.
"It's a very popular place. Everybody gets along, and there's never really any real problems when we're down here," O'Dwyer said. "That's not to say it doesn't happen, but I know all these businesses take it seriously. They want people to have good, clean, safe fun and be able to go home."
He said the parade is here for a reason – there's good people and good businesses.
“We don’t like seeing any businesses go out, but we understand there’s stuff in the background that we’re not privy to and we’re sorry to see them go," he said. "We’ll concentrate on the rest of the block and keeping them going because it’s a great place to come down to.”
Felicia Stone lives in Bardstown, and she said she's partied at Baxter's 942 over 10 times.
"You can't put blame on Baxter's," Stone said. "You've got to put blame on the people, not Baxter's."
She said the problem lies within the patrons.
“It’s not Baxter’s fault," Stone added. "You can’t control what people’s emotions are or how they feel after they drink liquor."
Baxter's 942 has 30 days to appeal the decision with the Kentucky Alcoholic Beverage Control Board.
The license expires on Thursday, which means after Halloween, they'll have to stop serving alcohol.
Baxter's 942 Bar & Grill did not respond to a request for comment.
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.