This petition is in support of The Fluent House, the newest production house located in Tuscaloosa, Al. The House is home to a developing music studio, podcast station, photography and videography studio with plans of turning the 2200 square ft warehouse space into an event space for the uprising creative community. The space will host events such as educational business workshops, music workshops centered on helping uprising creatives in knowing the legal entities of the industry, music registration and more, private events like Alabama football watch parties, fashion shows, pop up shops, and even to serve the community as a new venue to host celebrations and other life long memories they wish to create. 

In 2001, the Tuscaloosa News reported that there were 882 black-owned businesses in Tuscaloosa, ranking fifth in Alabama in the number of black-owned businesses. Fast forward to 2021, according to Patch.com, even The University of Alabama School of Business long with other affiliates and business partners across the state,  are conducting a state-wide research study that will help understand the challenges faced by Black businesses in Alabama, and the factors that lead to their success and their failure, their resilience and their growth...

That same article suggests that 80% of Black own businesses fail within the first two years of business. With more than 124, 000 minority businesses in the state of Alabama in 2021, we deserve the equal opportunity at business just as much as any other business owner. One hundred and twenty four thousand black businesses that have aided in the economic growth of our state. In fact, after speaking with other black owned businesses, the petition process is just another thing that many black businesses can relate to having already gone through the process. 

The Fluent House originally started as a photography studio that blossomed into a premier event space for the community of Alberta. The business physical location is owned by Meyerco and had been occupied since July 2021. It is owned by 28-year-old Kris "Dr. Fluent" Campbell, a radio personality, media professional, author, social media influencer, and college professor. Holding a masters degree from Texas Southern University in Houston, The business license was finally obtained late Sept. 2021 and so the plans for the grand opening commenced. The grand opening was scheduled for Oct. 9th featuring one of Alabama's biggest artists, Big Yavo. After almost 1000 shares on social media, the grand opening celebration, was shut down by the Tuscaloosa Police Department. We were informed that their needed to be a special events license in place for the event. After connecting with Urban Development with the City of Tuscaloosa to obtain said license, we were informed that the Tuscaloosa Police Department had called and given them instructions to not allow The Fluent House to obtain the license. The owner of The Fluent House, Kris "Dr. Fluent" Campbell, was told by Tuscaloosa police that if he had the grand opening event, he would be taken to jail. 

To offset the purchase of a special events license every 30 days for our event center business, we asked that the landlord approve our special liquor licensing to ensure that all of our customers, future business partners, and the community are all covered when doing business. As the Fluent House pitched to the landlord of the property, it's original business model as a hub/event space in ADDITION to the music, photography, and videography studios, it wasn't until after the cancellation of the event that The Fluent Houses's landlord refused our denial of a liquor license due to "the city wouldn't allow it." We later learned that we were zoned to be able to sell liquor at our establishment. After we received the liquor license application checklist, it stated that approval from the landlord was needed to before approval of the licensing. Even after agreeing to special restrictions that wouldn't interfere with community normality like only renting the event space on weekends, making sure there are no events after 8-10pm, or even starting a community Taco Tuesday night to support the neighboring latino community who's music blast way beyond the noise ordinance compliance time 10pm.  A liquor license will will complete the business model and allow us to create futuristic events and grow the community. After 4-months of occupying the location, the landlord informed us that they would not approve our liquor license due to family tradition and their discretion. This was a surprise to hear because the landlord took us on a tour of a second space in the same lot as our current location. With plans of "Buying the Block," we pitched that location as a sports bar and the landlord agreed. With that type of business, a liquor license would have to be obtained...

Future plans of The Fluent House include an after school program for rising rockstars, a summer enrichment program centered around education, physical health, and media. We plan to be a center to help keep the community safe by hosting community watch meetings, meet the neighbor events, and more. We know that with the extreme social media attraction from our grand opening event, this is a business that our community wants...and we want them to experience it. 

Please sign our petition to have our photography studio and music license to include that of an event center and/or lounge and the approval of our liquor license.