Baton Rouge lounge near LSU withdraws rezoning request, plans to relocate
BATON ROUGE — A business near LSU's campus that went viral during Welcome Week pulled its rezoning request before a zoning meeting Monday and says it plans to leave its West Chimes Street location when its lease is up.
The Lotus Lounge had previously been denied zoning to allow the sale of alcohol and was set to appear at a second rezoning hearing before choosing to withdraw the request.
The manager says neighboring businesses pushed back against the lounge. According to the manager, there were no complaints about how the business was operating until The Lotus filed a petition to serve alcohol.
"To see the type of resistance that we got, instead of support, when the actual community itself supports what we're doing," said manager Kwane Douglas. "Our safety record is stellar. Never had a fight. It's a place where people come to chill out even if it's a lively event, people are respectful. People know it's a community. They know we're not going to get drunk and do whatever."
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Douglas said the lounge is now looking into other locations.