Montgomery cracks down on troubled jazz bar after wave of violence, drug and harassment complaints

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August 8, 2025

The Montgomery City Council is taking action against a downtown establishment following a growing number of safety-related complaints.

1048 Jazz & Blues, located on East Fairview Avenue, is under review after reports of violence and present-day concerns raised by patrons and nearby Cloverdale residents.

As part of a temporary measure, the bar must close at midnight for the next 60 days. After that period, the council will assess the volume of complaints before deciding whether to take further action.

In a recent report by WSFA, customers shared their experiences regarding the conditions inside and outside the bar, raising concerns about the risk of danger in the area.

Wilson Folmar, a longtime Cloverdale resident, recalled the bar’s earlier reputation:

“I used to frequent that bar years ago, my sister played in the band there, and I used to go quite a bit,” said Folmar. “It was a good place to go, but for whatever reason, it has changed.”

According to WSFA, complaints about the venue include sanitation issues, racial harassment, alleged drug use, and physical violence.

One patron, Derrick Tenner, shared a personal experience of violence.

“Recently, I was brutally assaulted.”

He explained that the attack continued outside, where there was no security presence.

“They wouldn’t allow me to call the police, wouldn’t call the police for me,” he said.

Douglas Gurney, the owner of 1048 Jazz & Blues, pointed to the parking lot as the core issue.

“If you would give me a police car and just let me run it around the parking lot every half hour with the blue lights on, I might be able to do something about it, but it’s a problem everywhere,” Gurney told the reporter.

“I understand their position; they don’t want to hear complaints. I get that. I don’t know what else to do but comply and see what happens.”

Councilmember Andrew Szynmanski, who represents the district where the bar is located, noted that the council receives more complaints about the area surrounding 1048 than any other in the entire city.

He stressed the need for the bar to “get its act together” due to its location near Huntingdon College, Alabama State University, and several businesses, including those moving into the new East Fairview Avenue development.

Sherri Blevins is a staff writer for Yellowhammer News. You may contact her at [email protected].