DUSTIN COOK Lounge loses business licence after years of issues with police
An Edmonton shisha lounge owner says he is being racially profiled following the loss of his business licence after police responded to 75 complaints since May 2015.
Nyala Lounge, at 10875 98 St., lost its licence last Wednesday at the recommendation of the public safety compliance team (PSCT), which determined it poses a risk to public safety, the city said Monday.
Police responded to 22 calls of violence at the lounge with 13 incidents involving weapons since May 2015, PSCT support manager Justin Lallemand said during a news conference.
“Concerns with Nyala Lounge came to our attention in 2015. We attempted to work with them to promote best practices ... with no success,” Lallemand said. “This is not based on just bylaw tickets. This is years of violent incidences.”
Many of the violent calls involved firearms, but Lallemand said there were no criminal charges laid in any of the cases.
But bar owner Mulugeta Tesfay said these allegations are “pure discrimination” and the incidents police responded to didn’t start in Nyala Lounge.
“Nobody complained from my neighbours, nobody complained from my customers,” Tesfay said.
He has 14 days to appeal the city ’s decision, but said he will not be taking action.
“I’m tired. I’m not going to fight it,” he said.
Conditions were placed on the bar’s licence last June, including a smaller capacity limit, the use of an ID scanning system, video surveillance and use of a metal detector. The bar received 82 violations of these conditions totalling $24,000 in tickets on more than 25 occasions. Tesfay also faced a criminal charge for obstructing a peace officer in relation to a weapons complaint, Lallemand said.
Tesfay said he is hoping to sell the property and relocate to another city to open another restaurant.