In the heart of South Nashville, peace has been a scarce commodity, thanks largely to one establishment: 404 Bar and Grill. But those days may be drawing to an abrupt close, as the venue found itself on the wrong side of a padlock this week. At the behest of a temporary injunction and padlocking order from Criminal Court Judge Steve Dozier, the bar is now indefinitely closed, as reported by the Nashville Metro Police Department. The premises—which have over the last 5 ½ years generated an alarming 120+ calls to law enforcement for varied offenses, including gun-related disturbances, drug dealings, assault, and more—stand accused of outright neglecting the safety of patrons and surrounding residents.
An investigation into 404 Bar and Grill by local police and the District Attorney’s Office found a consistent string of incidents tantamount to a public nuisance, with evidence of gunshots, drug transactions, and underaged drinking; unfortunately, the establishment did not heed concerns from the authorities or the community, as they neither attended a vital community meeting convened by the police last November nor addressed issues flagged by the Metropolitan Beer Board—among others, the sale of beer to minors.
According to Nashville’s Police Chief John Drake, the persistent problems have drained precious police resources for far too long. “Calls to 404 Bar and Grill have been a drain on police resources for years,” he said, citing the undue burden it placed on the Midtown Hills Precinct, which has tirelessly served the area’s residents and businesses. Owners Nancy McGrath and Laura Wilson, and property owners Charles James Farris II and Howard Avery, are now barred from setting foot on the premises pending further court orders. In one harrowing encounter last year, a pursuit of a notoriously violent MS-13 gang member, who police observed dealing drugs nearby, ended with officers under gunfire, though the suspect was later apprehended…