Columbia Police Revoke License of Empire Supper Club in the Vista

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COLUMBIA, SC (WOLO)–Columbia Police Chief Skip Chief Holbrook says he has finalized his decision to revoke the city-issued business license of the Empire Supper Club.

The club, in the Vista, was served an official notice of the decision Thursday night.

Empire Supper Club was deemed a public nuisance by the Chief after a weekend shooting in the vista took place outside on Lady Street.

Eight people were injured in the shooting.

The Club’s owner, Joseph Stovall, told ABC Columbia News earlier in the week that the nuisance is not his business.

“I feel like his swift action to shut our business is a hoax. It is a cover up to give the streets a sense of safety. To give the public a sense of safety, to say here’s the problem, we shut them down. We’re not the problem. The problem is the people with guns, the problem is the gang violence that exists in Columbia the day before and today,” Stovall said.

Despite the owner’s pleas, Holbrook says he is standing by his decision to keep the nightclub closed.