City of Mauldin Revokes Hailee's Business License

The Mauldin City Council has voted to revoke the business license of Hailee’s Sports Bar and Grill at 1178 Woodruff Road.

It wasn't the only bit of bad news Hailee's received, as its appeal to overturn the ordinance banning the sale of alcohol in Mauldin after 2 a.m. was denied in Circuit Court.

The city council's decision comes after a lengthy and often contentious public hearing on Aug. 16, where a stream of witnesses, appearing on the City’s behalf, testified to drug use on the premises, the serving of alcohol to minors and questionable business practices.

That testimony, as well as the record of the numerous calls which brought the police to the location to make arrests on crimes that were often violent in nature, was enough to convince the council to revoke the license effective on Sept. 30.

The owner of Hailee’s, Sonny Ninan, has said that revoking the license would be the equivalent of giving his business the death penalty. Should the business close, approximately 25 people would lose their jobs.

Hailee’s and the city have been in constant conflict almost from the time the property was annexed in June 2010. In February 2011, the business license for Hailee’s was suspended.

In the spring, two people were shot in Hailee’s parking lot, leading to attempted murder charges.

In July, the city council unanimously passed an ordinance banning the sale of alcohol after 2 a.m. Though not named specifically, the ordinance was directed at Hailee’s, who draws many “after hours” customers.

Hailee’s will have 10 days to appeal the revocation of the business license.

The full text of the council’s findings has been attached as a pdf as is Judge Letitia Verdin's ruling from the 13th Circuit Court regarding denial of the appeal to overturn the alcohol ordinance.