Cork & Thorn License Complaint

At a glance

What: A disciplinary complaint by business licensing against an Arts District lounge (Naakiti Floral Design, Inc. d/b/a Cork and Thorn, 70 West Imperial Avenue) over violent incidents March, May and September 2026. Owner: Randi Garrett.
Where it stands: City Council approved the complaint 7-0 on October 21, 2026 and set the disciplinary hearing for November 4, 2026. The emergency closure order was lifted; the business may reopen under eight agreed conditions once its security plan is approved.
Next: Disciplinary hearing at the November 4, 2026 City Council meeting.

Licenses involved: General Entertainment Establishment (G71-00647), Tobacco Establishment (P72-00064), Food Service or Café (G67-05944), Tobacco Dealer (G68-06066), and Full Alcohol on Premise (L68-00052).
Business licensing manager Allaby Heard reported the venue had a clean record for about nine years, then three serious violent incidents in six months despite corrective measures and stronger security.
City Attorney Dorocak advised that approving the complaint is procedural; both Metro and the licensee can present at the hearing. Recommended approval unless Council believed the complaint was fabricated.
Motion by Díaz to approve the complaint for disciplinary action and set the hearing date for 11/4/2026. Passed 7-0.

Hours limited to 8 a.m. to 2 a.m. (normally to 3 a.m.).
Approved security and floor plan on file, including parking-lot monitoring and exterior lighting; a Metro crime-prevention walk-through was set for 1:30 p.m. that day.
A key employee or principal on site; no weapons except law enforcement or licensed security; a licensed security company; at least four security personnel (or off-duty officers) covering the interior and lot.
Steps to keep people in an altercation from re-engaging when removed; video available on request; Metro may order an emergency closure for violations.

More than a dozen supporters spoke: the owner's attorney, employees, entertainers, patrons and a person hurt in the parking-lot violence. They said the September incident happened in a city-owned lot, that the venue bars weapons and has security, that closure costs jobs for musicians and staff, and that enforcement should be equal across the Arts District. One speaker said the venue was being judged by its clientele and music.
The mayor asked the crowd to avoid repeating points and thanked them for turning out.

Mayor Berkley asked staff to confirm that November 4 is not yet a decision and that the business can work with the city before then.
Summers-Armstrong asked how the business would staff off-duty officers; Brune asked about the hours and how a weapons ban works in an open-carry state (answer: a private business may set its own rules); Kelley asked how fast the venue could reopen (as soon as the plan is reviewed, within an hour or two).
Mayor Pro Tem Díaz moved to approve the complaint and set the hearing. Carried (tally not captioned).

About 46 minutes across 1 meeting (from transcript timestamps; approximate).

Meeting	Minutes
2026-10-21 - City Council	46

2026-10-21 - City Council — Item 28. Council approved the complaint and set the November 4 hearing; emergency order lifted and the business reopens under eight conditions.