LITTLE ROCK — Porter’s Jazz Cafe at 315 Main St. in downtown Little Rock is temporarily closed after the state Alcoholic Beverage Control division pulled its liquor license this week, co-owner Marcell Dean said late Thursday.
“We are addressing all the matters and hopefully will have everything squared away [today] or early next week,” Dean said.
Michael Langley, director of the Alcoholic Beverage Control Administration, said the license was yanked because Porter’s never obtained a state sales-tax permit. He said that if Porter’s obtained a sales-tax permit and paid back taxes, it could get back its liquor license.
Dean said as soon as the restaurant gets its alcohol permit it will reopen.
He added that he and coowners Augusta Farver Jr. and Milton Shannon were working on getting its city salestax issue “squared away.”
The cafe has been hailed as a key element in a hoped-for revitalization of Main Street.
The restaurant and bar is to be sued by the city because it is delinquent on its 2 percent restaurant sales tax, according to the Little Rock Convention and Visitors Bureau.
In September, the first month it was open, Porter’s paid the city $383 on $19,168 in total sales, according to the visitors bureau. It reported sales of $14,945 in October, but did not pay the $349 it owed. It hasn’t reported sales figures or paid any taxes since.
Scott Reed, who owns the building that houses Porter’s, said Thursday that he is working with the owners to resolve a lawsuit he filed against Porter’s for December and January rent.
Reed said the lawsuit could be resolved if Porter’s agreed to move a kitchen exhaust fan overhanging the Rose Law Firm parking that is spewing grease residue onto cars. Reed is currently in discussions with Porter’s owners to fix the problem, he said.
Business, Pages 26 on 02/10/2012