NASHVILLE, Tenn. – Metro Police have shut down a downtown bar after a court declared it a public nuisance.
Police padlocked Luau Louie's Hula Hut on 2nd Avenue on Thursday afternoon.
Police responded to a shooting there in May. They said they have been constantly called out the bar for fights, drugs, a riot, assaults on officers and underage drinking.
"Downtown Nashville deserves better. We deserve an area that is safe for guests, tourists, and patrons to attend without fear of violence, or some of the parents having concerns of their children attending this place and illegally consuming alcohol or other illicit drugs" said Jason Reinbold with Metro Police.
They said shutting it down was the last resort after numerous meetings with the owners didn't result in any changes.
The owners' attorney acknowledged that there were problems and he said he looks forward to getting the issues resolved.
"Nobody wants downtown to be dangerous, but they have to realize is there are five huge parking lots around here, and the majority of the crime you're hearing about are minors in these parking lots. They are not customers in Luau Louie's or on their premises," said attorney Adam Dread.
Police said they gave Luau Louie's hundreds of chances, but other businesses won't be so lucky.
"If you're getting visited frequently by the police department, there's a reason. And the police department is going to do as much as they can. They're about enforcement, but they're also about prevention, so I think they want to prevent visits like this. So I think it sends a message: shape up or ship out" said Tom Turner with Downtown Nashville Partnership.
The property owners said they cannot be responsible for what happens in the parking lot.
A court date on the padlock order is set for September 28 to decide what the next steps will be and if the bar will be allowed to reopen.
Police said this is the first downtown bar to be padlocked. Before it was only strip clubs.
In the past few months, police have padlocked two other bars for being a public nuisance. Silverado's on Murfreesboro Road was shut down on August 3. Out of Bounds Bar & Grill, also on Murfreesboro Road, was closed on June 2. Both have since re-opened after agreeing to certain terms to keep from becoming a public nuisance again.
