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Taniesa L. Sullivan | The Weekly Ledger News | Southern Torch
FORT PAYNE, Ala. -The Alabama Alcohol Beverage Control Board (ABC) suspended the privilege of selling alcoholic beverages to The Stockade Pub and Eatery effective January 4, 2023, until further notice. According to an ABC Board spokesperson, that privilege has been restored.
The Stockade is located at 212 Gault Avenue North, Fort Payne, and has been in business since August 2022. Recently, The Stockade has been the subject of controversy in downtown Fort Payne because they hosted a Drag Queen show in late November. The promotion of the show online drew positive and negative reactions from locals.
A sign posted on the front door of the business cited ABC regulation 20-x-2.03 (5) as the reason for the closure.
Ala. Admin Code r. 20-X-2.03(5) states: (5) When a licensee has been cited for a violation, the licensee may elect to waive a hearing before the Hearing Commission and/or the ABC Board and enter a plea of guilty to such violation. If a fine is imposed upon said guilty plea, the licensee shall remit the full amount thereof to the ABC Board by cashier's or certified check or money order within seven (7) days after the entry of a such guilty plea or, in the event responsible vendor mitigation has been sought, then within seven (7) days after notification of the action of the mitigation committee. Failure to remit said fine within seven (7) days shall subject the licensee to an automatic license suspension, commencing immediately without any appeal thereof, until such fine is paid to the Administrator and the licensee has received from the Administrator a letter of reinstatement of the license together with the license, itself.
Fort Payne City Clerk Robert A. Parker stated that he had been notified of the license suspension and was in contact with the Alabama Beverage Control Board to see what steps would be taken by the City of Fort Payne.
“The licensee received a citation from an ABC Licensing Agent in the Ft. Payne area and did not pay it on time which triggered the sign being placed on the establishment’s door Wednesday” stated Daniel Dye, Public Information Officer for the ABC Board. “Soon after the sign was placed the owner paid the citation and is again licensed to sell alcoholic beverages.
The citation was for failure to keep records/receipts on the licensed premises [ABC Reg 20-X-6-.04(4)]. Again, this citation was paid on Wednesday and the establishment is now cleared to sell alcoholic beverages, again.”
Calls made to The Stockade were not answered, as of press time.
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