LOUISVILLE, Ky. — A dry vote directed at Virtue Bar and Lounge on Brownsboro Road puts owner Toney Frank in a difficult position.
Alcohol accounts for around 40% of his sales.
"We probably have one of the more profitable businesses and now, here we are, saying, 'Let's strip a small minority business on how they thrive' and 'Let's kick 'em out,'" Frank said. "I don't know if their foot's big enough to kick us out cause our goal is to be here."
A Thornton's gas station a couple blocks up the road will still be able to sell alcohol since it falls outside of the voting precinct. Virtue won't be able to since it's just inside the boundaries. Residents in the hills above the bar blame them for things like trash, packed streets, violence, and gunshots outside the business.
Frank tried to address these concerns, but it wasn't enough to sway the vote. He hired more security, deployed an exterior camera, ordered extra dumpsters, and put up signs encouraging people to "be a good neighbor."
He showed WHAS11 a packet left around the area detailing complaints against Virtue, urging people towards the dry vote.
According to the Jefferson County Clerks Office, 79 people voted to go dry—no alcohol sales, defeating the 49 "yes" votes with less than half the precinct participating. 125 people total participated in the election out of 310 eligible voters.
"Outside partying/drinking in parking lots, gunshots in this area. Parking has been another issue." Frank dragged his fingers along the words in the packet then said, "That all is not true and I think the narrative has been twisted around to make it look like all this is because of us."
Clifton Heights Community Council President Alison Johnson told WHAS11 that, "...nearby neighbors are mostly pleased, yet some are apprehensive regarding the possible repercussions."
"We'll have to file a legal appeal, through the county attorney's office," Frank said. "And it'll go through circuit court. We're prepared to do that."
He intends to stay whatever the outcome.
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