Tuscaloosa business suing city after business license revoked

TUSCALOOSA, AL (WBRC) - Sideline Bar and Grill hopes arguments it made before the Tuscaloosa City Council go over better in front of a judge.

On Monday, attorneys representing the owner filed suit in Tuscaloosa circuit court against the city in attempt to regain its business license.

Sideline Bar Grill has remained closed since the Tuscaloosa City Council pulled its business license in April.

But some residents in the Windsong South neighborhood behind it worry it may reopen.

“I’m just totally concerned about the residents in our neighborhood,” Mike Copenhaven said.

Copehaven says some of the activity that happened recently at Sideline makes them fearful. "There’s a lot of activity with the gunshots, cars, when they close, they drag race through our neighborhood,” Copehaven added.

Two people were wounded there earlier this year.

Attorneys for Sideline argue some of the things alleged to have happened there didn’t.

The lawsuit also says the business followed recommendations to upgrade security by installing more security cameras, increasing lighting outside, and hired more security guards to patrol areas like the parking lot.

Despite those changes, the Tuscaloosa City Council decided to revoke its business license in a 4 to 3 vote.

We reached out to attorney’s for Sideline and the city. A city spokesman told us they had no comment. Sideline’s attorney was unavailable Wednesday.

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