ST. LOUIS (KMOX) – St. Louis 7th Ward alderman Jack Coatar is very frustrated with the latest shooting outside of downtown’s Reign restaurant. This shooting occurred just after midnight on Saturday and was the second shooting within a week outside the nightclub. Alderman Coatar, whose ward includes parts of downtown including where the restaurant is located, tells KMOX hosts Charlie Brennan and Amy Marxkors that he’s very frustrated with this establishment.
“Since it opened it’s been the scene of many incidents and when you hear from the owner it’s never their fault, it’s always someone else’s fault.” The restaurant is owned by Dana Kelly whom Mr. Coatar said, “I don’t know if she’s politically connected or not but she’s got no business trying to run a nightclub because she doesn’t know what she’s doing.”
He went on to say that his ward includes all of Soulard and a big chunk of downtown with “all sorts of bars and nightclubs, this is the only one where we repeatedly have people getting shot.” He’s asking the mayor’s office to “do whatever is in their power to shut this place down.”
He believes the easiest way to do this is by revoking their liquor license.
When asked who is in charge of revoking a liquor license he said Myles McDonnell, the City Excise Commissioner, would have to “issue some findings and then have a hearing.” The establishment in question would then have “about 10 days” to respond with evidence on why they should remain open.
Alderman Coatar concluded, “enough is enough, the downtown community won’t continue to tolerate this.”
*story by Audacy
