License pulled from Chippewa bar

BUFFALO, N.Y. (WIVB) - A Chippewa District nightclub that came under scrutiny after two separate murders outside has permanently closed.

The Big Bad Wolf on Delaware Avenue has a notice posted on the front door indicating that the city has ordered the shutdown due to a licensing issue. The new owner of the building, Uniland Development, has terminated the club's lease agreement "for being in default."

Common Council member Darius Pridgen said, "You know I'm never thrilled about a business closing, I'm pro-business. This place did have a lot of problems."

The bar was only open for about a year, but last June the Big Bad Wolf on Delaware near Chippewa was cited for serving underage people. Then in August, a man was murdered in the rear parking lot. In that same parking lot, just two weeks ago, three other men were shot. One died from the bullet wounds.

MORE | News 4 just ran a report on the murder that happened outside Big Bad Wolf in October. The victim's mother is pleading that those who saw it happen come forward and police have released surveillance video

The owner of the building has evicted the club, telling News 4: "The Big Bad Wolf's lease agreement was terminated because they were in default. They no longer have the right to occupy the property."

"The city also has this establishment in court right now that it is sending out a clear message," Pridgen said. "That violence won't be tolerated, especially in establishments that have to have licenses."

But Chae Hawk has been inside and thinks the managers did their best with security. He's a rapper who says it's getting harder and harder to find a venue willing to bring in a rap artist.

"It was heavily secured. Every time I'd go by it seems to be secure. It just makes it difficult for us to get our names out to have people be receptive to what we do. It's hard to find a location where we can do that accordingly without getting some type of bad rap," Hawk said.

We tried to reach out to the owners of Big Bad Wolf for comment, but received no response.