Three Houston-area businesses have had their liquor permits suspended following Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission investigations which found violations of state requirements to prevent the spread of COVID-19. The actions come following inspections by TABC enforcement and auditing personnel over the weekend.
Emergency suspension orders were issued to the following businesses:
- Houston Grooves LLC (Grooves)
- 2300 Pierce Street, Houston
- 30-day suspension
- Violation date: Jan. 16
- 2301 Entertainment LLC (Cle’)
- 2301 Main Street, Houston
- 60-day suspension issued Jan. 19
- Previous suspension issued Sept. 8, 2020 (30 days)
- Violation date: Jan. 16-17
- Spire Reception Hall LLC (Spire)
- 1720 Main Street, Houston
- 90-day suspension issued Jan. 19
- Previous suspensions issued July 1, 2020 (30 days) and Oct. 20, 2020 (60 days)
- Violation date: Jan. 17
All three businesses are accused of violating Gov. Greg Abbott’s Executive Order GA-32, which requires businesses which sell alcohol for on-premise consumption to comply with capacity limits as well as social distancing and facial covering requirements.
Under the Alcoholic Beverage Code, the businesses are entitled to a hearing before a state administrative judge to affirm the TABC decision. The emergency orders remain in effect pending the end of the suspension or a judge’s ruling.
TABC regularly conducts inspections to ensure businesses are in compliance with state requirements. Since June 26, the agency has conducted nearly 30,000 inspections, finding fewer than 800 total infractions.
For more information about current requirements under GA-32, visit www.tabc.texas.gov/coronavirus.