The Brown Door, a bar located in Hammond, Louisiana, has been closed until further notice following a suspension of its alcohol license. The closure was announced via an Instagram story posted on Thursday night. A representative from the Hammond Police Department confirmed on Friday that officers assisted the Louisiana Alcohol and Tobacco Control in delivering a notice of suspension to the establishment. The bar’s license will remain suspended until a hearing scheduled for September 11, 2025.
The decision to close the bar stems from a recent investigation in which Hammond Police arrested two bartenders at The Brown Door. The investigation revealed that staff sold alcohol to individuals under the age of 21 on multiple occasions. In a span of just three hours, police recorded 116 alcohol sales to underage customers. Surveillance footage indicated that the bar staff failed to alert management or security about these violations while patrons consumed alcoholic beverages openly.
As a result of this investigation, several arrests were made. Sydney Elise Mitchell, a 20-year-old bartender from Gulfport, Mississippi, faces 115 counts of unlawful sales to persons under 21, along with one count of allowing a disorderly place. Another bartender, Michael Samuel Cuccia, aged 22 from Mandeville, was charged with one count of unlawful sales to underage customers and one count of letting a disorderly place.
Further complicating matters, Tristan Michael Stravinsky, 21, from Slidell, was arrested for 10 counts of unlawful purchase of alcoholic beverages for individuals under 21, as video evidence showed him procuring drinks for underage patrons. The owner of The Brown Door, Patrick Lynn Broussard, 57, from Port Allen, received a misdemeanor summons for allowing a disorderly place. Additionally, Richard Kale Clementi, an 18-year-old from Slidell, was cited for unlawful purchase and public possession of alcoholic beverages for persons under 21.
In a related political development, former Hammond city administrator Lacy Landrum has declared her candidacy for mayor. This announcement was made through a Facebook post by her partner, Joseph Dominick. The upcoming mayoral election is set for next fall, signaling a potentially competitive race within the community.
The closure of The Brown Door highlights ongoing issues surrounding underage drinking and regulatory compliance in the region. As the bar awaits its hearing, it remains uncertain what the future holds for the establishment and its employees.