A homebrewed Mainstrasse controversy aired itself in public last night at the Covington City Commission meeting. Leadership from Paddy’s on Main and Bourbon Haus 1841 aired their grievances over loud music during the public comments portion of the city commission meeting.
Tammy Brumfield, co-owner of Bourbon Haus 1841 along with her husband, Dave Brumfield, first brought up her issue with the music volume levels of Paddy’s on Main.
“We offer an extensive outdoor patio where we do 25 percent of our business and as high as 50 percent of our business during our spring, summer and fall months,” Brumfield said. “This business is currently under siege. We are here today because we now share a patio with a new bar, Paddy’s on Main, that opened in December. Long before they opened, Paddy’s has been blasting their music on the patio with clear intention of disrupting our customers.”
Brumfield compared the speakers at Paddy’s on Main to the speakers one would find at a large nightclub. Brumfield said Bourbon Haus 1841 has received complaints regarding the volume of the music. She said she confronted Paddy’s leadership and requested they turn the music down. According to Brumfield, they refused.
In March, Brumfield said Paddy’s on Main had a live music performance with speakers on their patio that shook Bourbon Haus’s walls and shelves.
Brooklyn Koebke, the current General Manager at Paddy’s on Main, said Paddy’s was aware of the noise levels their speakers could reach.
“We’ve been very mindful to keep it at a level that’s friendly to everyone,” Koebke said. “I know there have been instances in the past where the live music combatting with Bourbon Haus’s outdoor patio music has made, obviously, way more noise than necessary.”
Koebke said she had previously worked at Bourbon Haus 1841 prior to working at Paddy’s on Main. She cited previous incidents where live music has been performed on the patio at Bourbon Haus. Koebke said she has personally made her staff at Paddy’s on Main aware of the Covington noise ordinances, especially on weekdays. Koebke said she could see both sides of the argument, having worked for both establishments, but conceded it would be hard to see the argument against hosting live music performances.
“On one Saturday in particular, it was a very clear indication that they (Bourbon Haus 1841) was trying to power out our paid musician that we had hired for the three hours they were performing, which they never played past the noise ordinance,” Koebke said.
Koebke reiterated that Paddy’s on Main was committed to being as mindful as possible of the Covington noise ordinances.
City Commissioner Ron Washington asked for clarification regarding Bourbon Haus 1841’s patio space.
Koebke clarified that Paddy’s on Main and Bourbon Haus 1841 share a common wall between the two establishments. Both buildings are owned by two separate entities.
According to Christopher Estano, owner of Paddy’s on Main, Paddy’s leadership has done everything in their power to work with Bourbon Haus 1841.
“We kept our music to levels that we thought were appropriate,” Estano said. “If the city deems that it wasn’t, we will turn it down.”
Estano said a certain incident occurred “a few Fridays ago”, when Bourbon Haus 1841 turned up their own speakers to the point where the noise was competing with the live music hosted by Paddy’s on Main. Estano said he wanted to host a patio environment where patrons could have a conversation.
“It was never my intention to disturb the neighborhood,” Estano said. “It never has and it’s never been. I want to be a part of this community.”
Estano said he’s given other businesses assurances that he’d keep the noise to reasonable levels and that the establishment would never host instruments like drums. Estano cites other businesses in MainStrasse that have been able to host live music without complaints. Estano also said the police have never been called on Paddy’s on Main due to a noise complaint.
“With that being said, I still want to have the same privileges that every other bar has on Main Street,” Estano said.
Kim Wolf, owner of the building Bourbon Haus 1841 is located in, said the building is under a purchase agreement to be sold. The sale is yet to be finalized pending litigation.
Covington Mayor Joe Meyer spoke last. Meyer stressed the importance of being a good neighbor.
“Be a good neighbor. It’s really just that simple,” Meyer said. “These things will sort themselves out. I do hope this is the last we hear of loud noise and these other situations back and forth. I’m not picking any sides here. This is ridiculous. If I might say that, you’re wasting the time of everyone here with this situation that quite frankly, isn’t resolvable by us. It’s only resolvable by you. Please, be a good neighbor.”
