The Glass Street Lounge, better known to customers as Pay Pays, 2302 Glass St., lost its beer license on Thursday. Owner Tyrone Brumfield, called Pay Pay by his friends, along with his son were involved in a fight in the parking lot of the business and were charged with stabbing a customer.
On June 30 about 1 a.m., police received a call from Doris Saxton asking for help.
The bar had been rented out for a private party that night and Ms. Saxton was at the door collecting a $10 entry fee from customers when she took a break during which she said she was cussed out by Pay Pay and called names. Ms. Saxton then found her brother, Marvin Walker, and was preparing to leave when her brother confronted Brumfield and asked why he had cussed at his sister. This led to Brumfield swinging at Marvin, but instead, hitting Doris. That is how the fight started. It escalated into Brumfield’s son joining in. During the fight 100 people from inside the bar came out to watch. While security guards tried to separate the men, Marvin began having convulsions. His sister laid on top of him for protection and called 911, she told the board in an emotional recounting of the incident. He was transported to the hospital.
Chattanooga Police Officer John Collins confirmed that was the only call that was made to report the disorder despite the place being extremely crowded that night. One of the requirements of having a beer license is that any disorder be reported to the police. When asked if he had called the police, Pay Pay answered, “No, I felt like I had to hold my ground.” Officer Joshua George, one of the responding police, confirmed that the victim had been stabbed twice on his face and twice on his back and had been bitten on his chest, and hit in the eye, which required stitches. He said everyone involved had been drinking, but he had not observed Pay Pay consuming alcohol, a statement that was disputed by Ms. Saxton.
After Marvin Walker was taken to the hospital, his mother and sister returned to the scene of the fight that night and took photos which were shown to the beer board, along with the blood-stained clothes he had been wearing.
Mr. Brumfield had three previous violations requiring beer board hearings from 2013 through 2017. After the hearing Thursday, a motion to revoke the license of Glass Street Lounge/Pay Pays Place passed unanimously. The revocation will go into effect immediately, said Assistant City Attorney Keith Reisman.
Tennessee Avenue, Inc., 2413 4th Ave., a convenience store. was approved for a carry-out beer permit on Thursday.