Owner commits to midnight closing; police chief to monitor incidents

PORT ALLEN — The Port Allen City Council approved alcohol license renewals for 10 establishments on December 10, but not before a pointed discussion about ongoing safety concerns at French Quarter Bar & Daiquiri on Court Street.

The establishment has been the site of multiple incidents in recent weeks, prompting council discussion about safety measures. Council members, particularly Councilwoman Adrian Joseph, pressed for stronger safety measures before approving the license.

"If you need the security there, they need to close," Joseph said during the December 3 committee meeting where the issue was first raised. "There have been too many incidents out there, and this is not the first, and I'm quite sure it's not going to be the last."

Police Chief Donovan V. Mitchell confirmed he had met with the establishment's owners after a pattern of incidents emerged. According to Mitchell, problems increased after they stopped paying for off-duty police officers to provide security at the location.

"It seemed like it got better when we did have officers there," Mitchell told the council. "The moment officers was removed, it seemed like it picked up."

Mitchell also raised concerns about the owners allowing patrons to congregate on neighboring properties, including the Pic-A-Pak Fried Chicken parking lot and a nearby dentist's office, where some were reportedly bringing their own alcohol and cooking food — activities not associated with the licensed establishment.

The owners, who were not identified by name in the meeting, appeared before the council to address the concerns. They said they plan to purchase the Pic-A-Pak Fried Chicken building in 2026 and convert their business model away from late-night operations toward a restaurant-focused daiquiri shop.

"We shut down at midnight. We would never open until 2 in the morning again, because nothing happens good after midnight," one of the owners told the council. "I want to become a restaurant, you know."

The owners said they could not afford to pay for two off-duty officers — a requirement typically applied to establishments serving alcohol with entertainment — because they are saving for the down payment on the Pic-A-Pak property. They noted the business had previously attempted to move to a different location on Jefferson Avenue, but plumbing issues prevented that plan.

Joseph maintained that an officer should be required, citing fairness concerns for other establishments and private event hosts who must pay for police presence.

"I still want it on record that I feel like an officer needs to be present and paid for," Joseph said. "It's going to cause confusion for people that's renting other facilities that have to have officers and never have drama at anything they have."

Councilwoman Charlene Gordon also expressed concerns, noting the establishment's history predates the current police chief's tenure.

City Attorney Evan Alvarez advised that the council could potentially revoke the liquor license if problems continue, and noted the city would be monitoring call volume to the location.

"Chief is going to monitor it," the attorney explained. "Looking at the amount of calls that's going to go there and see if that's actually going to make a difference or not. And then once we have that data, now the council will be in a better position to act."

The council ultimately approved all 10 alcohol license renewals in a single vote, including French Quarter Bar & Daiquiri.

The owners thanked the council and committed to working with police. Mitchell said he would continue working with them to develop a safety plan, with the understanding that the council could take further action if incidents continue.