‘Lotus has to go’: Property owner pulls rezoning application after complaints.

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BATON ROUGE, La. (WAFB) - A Baton Rouge businessman has pulled a rezoning application that could have helped The Lotus pursue a liquor license, bringing a months-long dispute over the business and its late-night operations to a new turning point.

The Lotus, located on W. Chime Street near Louisiana State University, hosts open mic nights, poetry and live music. The business had been seeking to expand its offerings by serving alcohol.

Nearby businesses have opposed the plans, citing complaints about loud and disruptive behavior, including activity that they say has continued as late as 4 a.m.


Mohammed Akasha, who owns the building where The Lotus operates, said he decided to pull the application after returning from an overseas trip Sept. 16 and learning more about the complaints.

‘Lotus has to go’: Property owner pulls rezoning application after complaints from nearby businesses.

The Lotus, located on W. Chime Street near Louisiana State University, hosts open mic nights, poetry and live music. The business had been seeking to expand its offerings by serving alcohol.

Nearby businesses have opposed the plans, citing complaints about loud and disruptive behavior, including activity that they say has continued as late as 4 a.m.

Mohammed Akasha, who owns the building where The Lotus operates, said he decided to pull the application after returning from an overseas trip Sept. 16 and learning more about the complaints.


Akasha said he spent a night at The Lotus himself to experience the operation firsthand before making his decision.

After hearing the concerns and observing the business, Akasha said he decided it was in the best interest of the neighborhood to stop pursuing the application and allow The Lotus to leave when its lease expires.

“We want what’s best for the neighborhood. And what’s best for the neighborhood is that Lotus has to go,” Akasha said.

Akasha also cited The Lotus’ late-night operating hours as a concern. He said he does not want alcohol being sold at his property.

“I love these guys that I’m renting to. They’re good people. They really are. It’s just too much heat and too much trouble,” Akasha said.

He said he would rather have peace of mind than continue dealing with the ongoing dispute.

“Everybody likes money, but I like peace of mind more than I like money,” Akasha said.

Kwane Douglas, The Lotus’ business and operating manager, said he was disappointed the application was pulled.

“It was pulled by the owner of the actual property due to actual months of pressure from neighboring competing businesses,” Douglas said.

Douglas disputes the complaints about The Lotus and said he believes the opposition is an attempt by competing businesses to shut down the venue.

“I’m hurt by where our relationship has gone due to the false light by which our business has been betrayed,” Douglas said.

The rezoning application was needed for The Lotus to potentially move forward with obtaining a liquor license.

With the application withdrawn, the future of The Lotus at its current location is uncertain. Douglas said the business is already having conversations about where it could move once its lease expires at the end of December.

“This is not the end of the Lotus journey whatsoever,” Douglas said.

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