Council Denies Permit for Live Entertainment

There will be no more musical performances at a popular youth-oriented business after the City Council denied the owners an extension of their live entertainment permit.

Citing calls for police, large crowds and a change in the owners’ original business intention, the council voted unanimously to deny the permit extension for owners of the Gig, 9191 Valley View St.

Owners last year had said their business would attract local artistic talent. The owner also agreed to have live music only on weekends.

But police said they were called to the establishment twice this year during weekdays when hip-hop and rap music contests were underway.

Police said large crowds of youths had sprawled out of the establishment, which can only hold 50 people, and the owner had been notified of the permit violation.

“What we entered in 1997 with this establishment is not what we have today,” said Mayor Mary Ann Jones in voting against extending the permit.

The owners were notified about the permit but did not attend the meeting. They could not be reached for comment.