CLEVELAND, Ohio (WOIO) – The Cleveland City Council passed an emergency ordinance unanimously that objected to the liquor license renewal for an Ohio City restaurant and its controversial owner.
In an Instagram post on Wednesday, Austin Davis shared that he was submitting his objection to Townhall’s renewal, citing Bobby George’s, the owner, 2025 felony conviction of attempted strangulation.
Davis said that the decision to file an objection to the yearly renewal of any bar’s liquor permit starts with a review process by the Ohio Division of Liquor Control.
Under Ohio Revised Code § 4303.29, the Ohio Division of Liquor Control may refuse to renew any permit to a person convicted of a felony reasonably related to their fitness to operate a liquor permit business. A felony conviction related to domestic violence-the judgment and character it conveys-speaks directly to that standard.
In August 2024, an arrest warrant accused George of multiple charges, including attempted murder, four counts of kidnapping, two counts of strangulation, felonious assault, and rape.
In 2025, he pleaded guilty to attempted strangulation, a fifth-degree felony.
George is involved with several local businesses in the Cleveland and Columbus area, including the following:
Ethos Hospitality GroupBobby George RestaurantsREBoLTownHallGreen Goat Cafe BarLost Social ClubBarley HouseLyv wellness spaceRed space eventsMandrake – ColumbusTownhall – Columbus
This incident cannot be reduced to a footnote in the history of West 25th Street. We know better, and we can clearly say that some things cannot be shrugged off, lawyered away, or quietly pushed through. That’s why I’m objecting. And as this process proceeds- which will be lengthy, with details to come- I encourage any community member with concerns about Town Hall to join in. There can be no quarter for domestic violence, here or anywhere.
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