Blue Fugue temporarily shuts down service

The club's liquor license expired Wednesday, preventing alcohol sales.

By Tom Carbone

Published July 1, 2009

The Blue Fugue, a Ninth Street club known for its drink specials and local shows, had to suspend liquor service Wednesday because of an expired liquor license.

In order to stay in business, bars must have an up-to-date liquor license approved by the city of Columbia.

The Blue Fugue's owners started the process to renew the club's liquor license June 16. According to the city of Columbia's Web site, liquor license renewals can take up to two weeks to be approved.

Tuesday marked the final day of the two-week period in which the renewals should be processed.

Janice Finley, business services administrator for the Columbia Finance Department, said The Blue Fugue's renewal is still going through the process right now.

"They did pay the renewal fee, but it is still going through the formal process,” she said. “We have to do a background check. It goes through the police department and comes back to me for review."

Finley said The Blue Fugue should receive a decision about the license renewal in a week or less.

Without a liquor license, The Blue Fugue cannot serve alcohol, which makes up the majority of its sales. Representatives from The Blue Fugue could not be reached for comment.