Some Youngstown city council members say they have had enough of nuisance bars in the area and they want them to be shut down.

Early last Sunday five men were shot outside the Torch Club on Salt Springs Road in Youngstown. Two of those victims died from their wounds.
Members of Youngstown city council next week are scheduled to consider objections to the renewal of liquor permits of the Torch club.

Law Director Jeff Limbian says the city has a high burden of proof to prove their case but he says they have plenty of documentation and evidence to bring to the hearing.
He describes normal nights at the bar as 'total mayhem.'  He says the city has video evidence of what was going on inside on any given night.

"It appears it was a strip club, a bottle club with smoking inside, over capacity, drinking in parts of the building that were not part of the liquor establishment well beyond the occupancy of the bar itself," said Limbian.

Councilman Mike Ray says the problems at the Torch Club often went outside of the bar as well.

"When you can't get down the street because the crowds are so large, especially during a pandemic and the parking situation, people are double parked on narrow streets and people just can't peacefully live in their neighborhood," said Ray.

The city will present their evidence at a hearing with the liquor permit holders present to speak on their own behalf. The city must prove, among other things, the permit holder has a disregard for laws, violates the the peace of the surrounding neighborhood and interferes with the safety of the public.
A decision on the permit will then come from the superintendent of the division of liquor control after they review the testimony.

Council is also objecting to the renewal of liquor permits for two other businesses.  They include the All City Sports Bar on Mahoning avenue, which has been closed by court order since August and the Downtown Circle, located on Federal Street.