It’s been a source of complaints for many months.
It is currently understaffed.
It's often not open during the posted hours of operation.
It’s not wanted by SPD Chief Wayne Smith.
All these factual statements apply to Shreveport's ABO office.
Its located at the old city hall building which now houses Shreveport Police Department at 1234 Texas Ave. This office issues and renews ABO and SOB (Sexually Oriented Business) permits.
A recent study of the requirements for a small business to open and operate in the City of Shreveport made 10 recommendations. One of these is to streamline the liquor licensing process. The report found many problems with the entire ABO licensing process.
A key suggestion is to " consider moving the liquor licensing administration into a more traditional regulatory department and away from police headquarters. The police can still enforce the requirements for liquor licenses and sign off on granting licenses, but the job of administering the paperwork and website for applications and renewals would better fit within an agency that administers other licenses."
At a Shreveport City Council Public Safety Committee meeting on Friday, Nov. 8 the ABO office was the subject of much discussion. None of the comments by the council members and the public were complimentary.
One well-established restaurant owner stated he had nine liquor licenses--4 in Bossier, 4 in Shreveport and one in Arkansas. He said 600 employees with half of them living in Shreveport. He questioned why he had to go through the arduous and expensive process to obtain an ABO permit for a new Shreveport location. He concluded his remarks by stating it was much harder to do business in Shreveport than Bossier City.
When questioned at the committee meeting SPD Chief Wayne Smith agreed that the operations of the ABO office were not the best due to staffing issues along with the large numbers of permits to be policed and renewed. Chief Wayne jokingly stated that he would gladly give the ABO office to a third party.
Newly hired Director of Economic Development Bill Sabo stated that he had started a review of the ABO office. Sabo worked in the permitting process for restaurants and bars in New Orleans and this experience will be helpful to him in evaluating Shreveport's ABO process.
The Shreveport City Council must approve the 2025 Shreveport budget no later than Dec.15 of this year. The council should make sure the proposed budget will provide funding for sufficient staffing of the ABO office, either in SPD or another city department. The operations and location of the ABO should be a high priority for the Administration and the Council in the first quarter of next year.