Tarboosh Hookah Bar in downtown Clarksville has agreed to a six-month suspension of its liquor license, after the TABC (TN Alcoholic Beverage Commission) filed suit, alleging violations of multiple executive orders, refusing to provide records to the TABC, failing to keep records of purchases and sales of liquor, and overall posing a risk to public safety.
On June 21st, Tarboosh was bursting at the seams with patrons both inside and outside. A complaint was filed between the hours of 1 am and 2 am to the fire department that they were overcapacity. After all was said and done, when the fire department cleared everyone out and counted the number of people was inside there were over 80 people above their posted capacity limit, and over four times the amount allowed via COVID-19 restrictions. They were then shut down for that night.
On August 11th, Tarboosh posted on their Facebook page that they will no longer be serving alcohol. This was ruled on by the Tennessee Alcoholic Beverage (TABC) Commission today, August 27th, to be in violation of eleven different executive orders and TABC rules. Some of these infractions include executive state order 38 and executive city orders 9, 10, 11, 12, and 13. The Agreed Order states that they will lose their license starting on Tuesday, September 1st at 12:01 am until February 28th, 2021 at 11:59 pm. During that time their suspension states that no sale of alcoholic beverages shall occur, they shall not place any alcohol orders to wholesalers, nor accept any deliveries of alcoholic beverages. It also states that if they violate the Agreed Order that the penalties can be enhanced up to revocation of the license entirely.
On August 14th, one of our reporters took photos of the outdoor employees and security not abiding by the mask requirements made by County Mayor Jim Durrett. An emergency order was made requiring civilians to wear masks outside or else they will be fined. Patrons of business are allowed to remove their masks while they are seated but employees are to wear them at all times to abide by this order. The pictures depict patrons not wearing masks before entering the business nor the security outside wearing them.
Tarboosh agreed to the license suspension today, via their lawyer. An upcoming meeting of the beer board could bring sanctions to their sale of other alcoholic drinks.
