The Hookah District was a restaurant and bar on Shreveport-Barksdale Highway, located in the old Mr. Gatti's Pizza building.

"Was" is the operative word because the building burned early Friday, May 27.

With the exception of a screened front porch area and a concrete block room at the rear, the building and contents were totally burned.

The establishment had been open on Thursday night; it had closed before the fire broke out about 1 am. on Friday.

At one point more than two dozen fire units were on the scene.

A local newscast stated that council member Alan Jackson was a part-owner and that new Shreveport Fire Chief Clarence Reese called him after the fire was reported.

Reportedly, Jackson was on his way back from Houston when he was called by Reese in the early a.m.

Reese was quoted as saying he had never seen a massive fire of that magnitude and that it took firefighters a long time to get the fire under control.

The news report stated that the cause of the fire was under investigation.

Word on the street is that the fire started in three locations in the building and that arson is highly suspected.

As of print deadline on Thursday, June 9, no press release had been issued by the Shreveport Fire Department on the fire.

A public records request reported that there were no documents dealing with the fire for public release at this time.

The Louisiana Secretary of State records reflect that the Hookah District, LLC articles of organization were filed on June 16, 2021. The initial LLC report listed Dempsey Sumlin as the agent for service of process and as the LLC (limited liability company) manager. (It is not a requirement to list owners in these filings.)

A Certificate of Occupancy was issued by the city of Shreveport on Dec. 15, 2001, in the name of "The Hookah District Vibe Dining," and it listed the type of business as "bar." Dennis Sumlin was listed as the owner of the business. The business address on the certificate is 1303 Shreveport-Barksdale Hwy.

The city of Shreveport also issued an Alcohol Permit to the Hookah District for the period of Dec. 17, 2021, through Dec. 16, 2022. The application listed Dennis Sumlin as the manager and as the sole owner.

The Hookah District was also required to obtain a permit from the Louisiana Office of Alcohol and Tobacco Control (ATC). This permit application also listed Sumlin as the only owner.

The bar/restaurant opened early this year.

By text, Jackson has advised that he has been a 33% owner of the Hookah District for five months.

Both Louisiana law and the city of Shreveport require the issuance of new alcohol permits if there is a transfer of 10% (or more) ownership of the permitted business.

Evidently, Jackson did not apply for new permits once he became a part-owner of this business.

Jackson is the appointed District E city council member. He has indicated he will run for a full four-year term this year.

Many questions need to be answered by both Jackson and the fire department:

1. Why did Fire Chief Reese call Jackson?
2. How did Reese have Jackson's cell number?
3. Why did Jackson not get new alcohol permits after he acquired 33% ownership?
4. Who were all of owners of the LLC and their percentage ownership at the time of the fire?
5. Why has the fire department not issued any press release on the fire?
6. Why has the fire department deviated from its normal procedure in issuing post-fire press releases
within 12 hours of a fire?

The failure to obtain new alcohol permits is an ethics violation at best. At worst it is a criminal offense.

Both Jackson and Chief Reese need to answer these questions.

Jackson is a public official, and he should be accountable for following both state and local law on alcohol permits.

Chief Reese should have his department issue a press release that includes an explanation as to why none have been issued since the fire.

These questions should be important not only to the voters in District E, but also to all Shreveport taxpayers.