HUNTSVILLE, Ala. (WHNT) – The owner of 708 Bar and Grille is responding after the Huntsville hangout was shut down.
Malcom Gopher, the owner of 708, says when the city shut down the bar on Thursday morning, it padlocked the only staple in the Calvary Hill community.
“It’s one black business in this neighborhood, and it’s been here since 1956, and we want it to continue to be here,” said Gopher.
The Huntsville Police Department (HPD), armed with a court order, immediately shut the bar down, citing multiple incidents of violence and a violation of the city’s noise ordinance.
In March of 2024, a shooting injured 5 people at the bar.
Gopher told News 19 that the police patrols were pulled away by HPD, which led to the city’s claims of safety concerns.
He said that at no point did any community member in Calvary Hill complain about the venue.
“I want to see that list of the people who complained,” Gopher said. “If we are a public nuisance, it’s only the city because we don’t agree with how they treat us. That’s the only problem we’re having is with the city.”
Malcom says that what adds to the criticism of 708 Bar and Grille and his neighborhood is that Huntsville city’s mayor or city officials have not answered his plea for help, nor arranged a visit to survey the issues in Calvary Hill.
“The mayor goes into G’s Country Kitchen all the time and eats and if he had such a problem with 708, why didn’t he come over here and sit with us?” Gopher asked. “We’re talking about urban development and nothing new has been built here on the north side. What do we have? A 2-star Applebee’s? We want better.”
Gopher says that he plans to attend the Huntsville city meeting on Thursday to fight the court order and reopen the bar.
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