Local Cue, a Greenville sports bar has discontinued its service of beer, wine, and liquor, making the announcement on social media July 18, citing liquor liability insurance as the reason.
The skyrocketing cost of premiums has been an ongoing issue for the state, with Upstate businesses like Blind Horse Saloon, Smiley’s in downtown Greenville, and Rotties 221 in Woodruff as reasons for closing.
“This year, it [insurance premium cost] went up 350%,” said Local Cue owner and operator Leah Vaughan.
Vaughan said the increase was $65,000 in 2022, $109,000 in 2023 and $341,000 in 2024.
“It’s kind of heartbreaking to see all of a sudden I’m no longer a sports bar,” Vaughan said.
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The bar took steps this year to try to avoid this outcome by closing service at midnight and focusing more on the food program, as well as scaling down staff benefits. Prior to 2023, Vaughan paid 50% of employees’ health insurance premiums and offered a 401(k) match. After the near doubling of liquor liability insurance premiums last year, employee benefits were cut.
In additon to eliminating alcohol, Vaughan also reduced staff by one-third. That was the hardest part, said Vaughan.
Vaughan retains optimism, though.
“We feel we have really good food. We want to ride this out until the law changes and we can get alcohol back. The city is supporting us, and our landlord is supporting us, and we’re really hoping the community helps support us, like they did through COVID, to get through this.”
Local Cue is located at 30 Orchard Park Drive in Haywood Plaza.
