Should shennanigans have been the demise of Jimmagan’s?

Jimmagan’s Pub on 60th and North Kings Highway has been put through the wringer publicly for the disagreements its owner has had with Solicitor Jimmy Richardson.

Richardson had initially claimed the bar was a nuisance due to the volume of calls police had received to maintain control at the place. Now recently, that claim was dropped and the bar had agreed to close at 1 a.m. So we still ask the question: Should Jimmagan’s have faced a nuisance violation or not?

Yes, it should have

Eight. It’s the number of businesses Jimmy Richardson has closed down due to Horry County’s nuisance laws. Seven were adult-themed businesses that were not closed down for any nudity or stage-height violations, Richardson said, but for the amount of calls made to police from the businesses for things like drugs and fights. Hell, earlier this year he closed down Levelz Bar & Grill, at 515 9th Avenue North in Myrtle Beach after a man was shot outside the bar in February.

What’s fair for all of these businesses should be fair for Jimmigan’s.

Police said they were called to Jimmagan’s 129 times between Jan. 1, 2014 and Oct. 14, and 49 were labeled “public assistance.” The calls that drew the most response from officers included an Aug. 15 shootout between two documented members of rival gangs, a bar brawl between 15 people in June, five weapons law violations and assaults. Police said that Jimmagan’s staff was reluctant to assist in investigations.

So what’s it going to take before Richardson realizes he needs to push forward with the nuisance violation? An actual death?

Are you kidding me?

Someone made the decision to shoot someone else so let’s close down a business that has paid taxes in this county for 20 years that didn’t - or can’t, for that matter - shoot anything.

The attack on Jimmagan’s - and a slew of other businesses that have already closed because of nuisance claims - are merely attacks because of Richardson’s personal agenda.

Strip clubs and local bars don’t have the same tourist appeal as Broadway at the Beach, which remains open despite frequent calls of fights, assaults, etc., especially in the summer.

Do you feel safe walking along the Boardwalk or Ocean Boulevard after 1 a.m.? Heck, let’s shut those down as well. There are always shootings at hotels, might as well shut those down, too. Have you seen the number of shopliftings at the mall? Get that sucker out of here.

By Richardson’s argument, Myrtle Beach as a whole should be shut down and turned back into the cow pasture it once was.

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This story was originally published November 18, 2015 at 8:33 AM with the headline "Should shennanigans have been the demise of Jimmagan’s?."