Council questions billiards-hall license amid advertisements for nightclub-style events

Councilors at a Montgomery City Council work session raised concerns about a business-license application for a proposed billiards hall at 33830 Harrison Road, saying online advertising indicates the business may operate as an event venue or nightclub rather than the billiard hall listed on the application. Licensing staff told the council they had observed online advertisements for parties and other services beyond pool tables and that no liquor-license application had been filed.

"From the advertisements online, they're doing more than just pool tables — they're advertising haircutting, bottles flowing, different things," Licensing staff (Speaker 6) said, explaining why the matter was referred to council. Staff added they had visited the site but were not able to inspect activities inside the premises.

Council member Speaker 10 said the advertised activities raised a mismatch between the application and likely operations. "It sounds like they want to either be an event center, which they can't be because there's one right next door, or they can go for a class 1 lounge license if they wanna be a nightclub," Speaker 10 said, noting that a lounge would require liquor-liability insurance and ABC approval.

Staff responded that if the business operates differently from the type stated on its application, the council should hear the license. Licensing staff said the owner had been instructed on the steps for applying for a liquor license but that no application had been received. Councilors also noted a church nearby and discussed statutory distance requirements between alcohol-serving establishments and places of worship.

No vote or final action was recorded in the work-session transcript. The item was scheduled for council consideration; staff recommended the matter be heard so the council can determine whether the license type aligns with the actual business operations.

Next steps: the council will proceed with a hearing on the application and licensing staff will continue to verify the business activities and any liquor-license filings.