The City of Austin has initiated legal action against Pour Choices, a bar located at 401 E. Sixth St., over allegations of persistent criminal activities occurring on the premises. The establishment, which occupies a corner in the city's bustling entertainment district, has been the site of various offenses, including assaults, underage drinking, drug-related crimes, and weapons violations. As reported by FOX 7 Austin, the city's lawsuit asserts that the bar owner knowingly tolerated these illegal activities without taking sufficient measures to prevent them.
Specific incidents highlighted in the lawsuit include a Pour Choices employee found with 110 doses of cocaine and a firearm, on top of other employees engaging in physical altercations while exhibiting signs of intoxication. These court document details suggest a pattern of negligent behavior, particularly the failure to check the IDs of minors before serving them alcohol. CBS Austin notes that the City is moving to not only demand an injunction but also potentially cut utilities or terminate the bar's lease if these issues are not addressed.
In response to the city's legal steps, Pour Choices' representation remains terse. "No comment. We haven’t been served, and will defer all questions to our attorney, Casey Wallace out of Houston, Texas," the owner of Pour Choices, Brandon Burleson, told FOX 7 Austin. The same outlet mentions that the defendants have a 50-day window to respond to the city's complaint since the lawsuit was filed. Despite this, the owner contests that they have yet to be formally served with the city's motion.
Austin Police Department records recount nearly 20 criminal offenses at Pour Choices' address since April of 2024, raising pressing concerns about public safety in the area. The city's legal action is evidently an attempt to forcefully abate the criminality that seems to have found a haven within the bar's walls. In a statement drafted by the City of Austin, they say, "The City filed a nuisance abatement lawsuit on January 12 and will provide further comment during court proceedings." It remains to be seen how this legal suit will unfold and whether it will effectively bring to cease the troublesome activities alleged at Pour Choices.
