Gipson’s Bar and Grill permanently closed for business Monday afternoon because of expected loss of alcohol and business licenses at the Douglasville City Council’s voting session Monday night.

Assistant City Attorney Suzanne Littlefield told the mayor and council she spoke to the attorney for Deehari Inc., which operated the business on Fairburn Road near I-20, late Monday afternoon and read a letter from the attorney acknowledging the accusations of selling alcohol to minors along with other city code violations.

In the letter, the business surrendered all alcohol licenses and Sunday pouring permit and stated the business was closed. Neither the attorney nor any representatives from Deehari Inc. were present for what would have been a public hearing on this issue, tabled from Aug. 20.

Littlefield detailed evidence which included a failure to pay the alcohol tax beginning in June, nor the late fee in May. She cited other violations which concerned providing adult entertainment without a license.

She also read evidence of incidents involving alcohol sales to minor undercover informants reported to have occurred July 18 and Aug. 2. Littlefield told the mayor and council,

“We believe this is sufficient basis for violation of the ordinance to revoke all the alcohol licenses, Sunday sales permits and the business license for that establishment and I believe that’s what they are expecting as well.”

The city council voted unanimously to revoke the establishment’s business license. Mayor Harvey Persons issued a strong statement regarding violations of city ordinances, especially those that affect the safety of young people.

“Be clearly understood that the council and mayor takes it very seriously that we will not tolerate any violations as it relates to these ordinances,” said the mayor, “We’re going to do our best to see that our community has a safe place to raise their families and work in a safe environment.”