CITY LEADERS EXPRESS CONCERNS OVER NEW ENTERTAINMENT VENUE’S ALCOHOL LICENSE REQUEST

UPDATE [10:30 p.m.]: The Tuscaloosa City Council approved the liquor license request for Shindig.

A new entertainment center broke ground in Tuscaloosa in July, but now city leaders are questioning the owner’s intentions after their request for an alcohol license.

Shindig is a $6 million, 51,000 square foot building that will feature laser tag, black light golf, bowling lanes, an arcade, a restaurant and party room rentals. It’s located on Highway 82 East in Tuscaloosa.

The owner said at the time Shindig would be a family-friendly environment, but his request to sell alcohol is throwing city leaders for a loop. According to the City Council agenda, Shindig has requested a special events retail license.

“If someone touts themselves as being family friendly, it doesn’t always constitute alcohol,” said District 5 City Councilman Kip Tyner. “I can’t speak for the council, but I believe they would have the same feelings I do and wish they would have done it from the beginning.”

Tyner said he’s wondering why Shindig’s owners didn’t let city leaders know they wanted to serve alcohol back when the business was approved.

“If you have a business plan you probably knew when you were opening the business you were going to ask for an alcohol license,” Tyner said. “I think it would have been more accepting if it had been done in that manner.”

The Tuscaloosa City Council is voting Tuesday on whether to grant an alcohol license for Shindig.