After a Thursday night shooting on First Avenue North, Birmingham Mayor Randall Woodfin this morning stated his opposition to the opening of PRVLGE, a new bar in a trouble spot where the Birmingham City Council last month approved a new liquor license.

“Privilege should not open,” Woodfin said in a social media post on X this morning. “Even before they open, I have no confidence that other patrons of existing businesses, future patrons of their business, and most importantly the residents in that block and vicinity will be safe.”

PRVLGE plans to open on the same downtown Birmingham block where a previous lounge, Cru, was shut down in 2024 after a controversy that included a lawsuit filed by the city.

The new bar was approved for a liquor license last month by the Birmingham City Council.

PRVLGE owner Dan Crane, an attorney who runs Dan Crane Accident and Injury Law, told the City Council that it would offer “networking for professionals,” similar to Paper Doll, 2320 First Ave. North, another lounge on the same block of First Avenue North.

AL.com has reached out to Crane this morning for reaction to the mayor’s comments.

A man was shot while in his vehicle Thursday night about 6:30 p.m. around the 2300 block of First Avenue North, said Officer Truman Fitzgerald.

Officers arrived on the scene when they were flagged by community members who alerted them to the injured person. After being shot he had been pulled into a nearby business. The victim was taken to UAB Hospital and underwent surgery for non-life-threatening injuries.

Woodfin visited the scene of the shooting Thursday, along with Interim Police Chief Michael Pickett and Jefferson County District Attorney Danny Carr.

Woodfin did not express opposition to PRVLGE at the City Council meeting where the liquor license was approved.

PRVLGE was approved to open in the middle of the block at 2312 First Ave. North, in a space previously occupied by Cassanova Bar and Lounge, which offered hookah smoking in addition to cocktails. Cassanova closed in 2024.

Cru was on the western corner of the block, in the Fix-Play building, at 2300 First Ave. North. It closed in June.

The city of Birmingham sued Cru on May 8 seeking the declaration of a public nuisance and requiring operators to take necessary steps to eliminate criminal activity or be prohibited from operating. Cru was the subject of a June 18 hearing to revoke its business license. The city accused Cru of allowing an atmosphere of lawlessness including promoting exhibition driving on First Avenue North.

“We cannot hold Mr. Crane responsible for what the Cru people did,” said Council member Valerie Abbott in the Dec. 10 council meeting. But she did say there would be a lot of scrutiny.

“He gets the baggage that goes with it,” she said. “We are going to be watching.”

Crane did not announce when he planned to open PRVLGE.

“I would ask that y’all wrap your arms around him,” Council member J.T. Moore said at the Dec. 10 meeting. “Patronize the business.”

Several downtown residents spoke against granting the liquor license, including Daniel Christiansen, president of the Central City Neighborhood Association. Christiansen said the neighborhood association had “trust” issues with Crane because of his previous legal representation of another bar, Saferoom Lounge in the Watts Tower at 2008 Third Ave. North, an area with issues of concern to downtown residents. That location is now the Belo Hookah Studio. The former Facebook page for Saferoom, which closed in April, now promotes PRVLGE.

“I feel like downtown is for everyone – it’s our living room,” said Council member Carol Clarke, who supported the liquor license at the Dec. 10 meeting. “It’s the living room of our entire city.”

Council member Crystal Smitherman also said problems with other downtown businesses shouldn’t be held against Crane. “Young people still deserve to have a place to go to,” she said at the hearing. “We can’t prevent another Cru.”

Crane said admittance would be restricted to age 25 and older. Business hours will be 5 p.m. to midnight, Tuesday through Sunday. He said he adjusted that from a previously announced plan to be open until 2 a.m.

“I say give him a chance,” Smitherman said on Dec. 10. “We still want to boost our economy. There aren’t any reasons to deny him for this.”

The proposed location of PRVLGE is directly across the street from Armour House, an upscale steak and seafood restaurant that opened in November at 2309 First Ave. North.