BY MICHELLE KEY | PUBLISHER
OPELIKA — The Opelika City Council revoked the business license of Wild Wing Cafe following a public hearing Tuesday and set a Sept. 1 hearing to consider revoking the business license of Top Shelf Alternatives, whose owners have been charged in connection with an investigation into products allegedly sold from the Geneva Street store.
The two actions placed separate businesses at different stages of the city’s license-revocation process. Wild Wing Cafe, located at 3040 Capps Way, had its hearing Tuesday before the council approved the revocation. Top Shelf Alternatives, located at 510 Geneva St., Suites 3 and 4, will have its hearing Sept. 1 at 6 p.m.
Under the Opelika Code of Ordinances, the council may suspend or revoke a business license following notice and a public hearing for certain violations of city, state or federal law or when a business is determined to constitute a danger to public health, safety or welfare.
Wild Wing Cafe
The council revoked the license issued to Together We Thrive LLC, which operated Wild Wing Cafe, following a public hearing on allegations that the restaurant had become a public nuisance.
The city’s Revenue Department cited numerous police calls, fights, shootings, alleged drug activity, overcrowding, illegal parking and alcohol sales to minors among the reasons it sought revocation.
According to the city’s petition, the Opelika Police Department responded to Wild Wing Cafe 96 times beginning March 13, including 35 calls for service and 61 security checks.
The incidents listed in the petition included fights inside and outside the business, reports of shots fired, complaints involving large crowds and illegally parked vehicles and repeated instances in which the establishment allegedly exceeded its maximum occupancy of 310 people.
On July 2, the city reported an estimated 400 to 450 people were inside the business, with another 100 to 150 people waiting to enter. According to the petition, the roadway was blocked to the point that a fire engine could not reach the business, and six vehicles were towed.
Major John Hester with the Opelika Police Department spoke on behalf of the OPD during the due-process hearing.
“In March of this year, Wild Wing Cafe received a license to do business in Opelika as a restaurant selling liquor and beer,” Hester said. “Since that time, over the course of four and a half months, OPD has responded 35 calls to service to that business. Within those 35 calls, we have responded to a shooting at the business where there was a gunshot victim. Our officers got in a high-speed chase from the scene. We recovered an AR-15 from that scene with 21 shell cases. We have responded to seven fight calls. Some of those calls, we’ve had to intervene. On one occasion, our officers had to deploy pepper spray and arrest a few subjects to stop the fight.”
Jeroskie Finch spoke to the council about the allegations.
“I do want to take accountability for the things that happened there,” Finch said.
He also said some of the service calls to the restaurant were made by him or staff members requesting assistance from OPD.
“[I’m a] first time business owner, we know we made mistakes,” Fitch said. “We made some mistakes. We just ask for opportunity to correct. … Not only does it affect me as a business owner, I have employees that depend on this job, and we just want to be given the opportunity to fix the stuff that we need to fix.”
The city also alleged Wild Wing Cafe had charged cover fees to enter the establishment, including $25 and $40 on separate occasions, which the Revenue Department cited in arguing that the business was operating more like a club than a restaurant.
On July 17, Alabama Law Enforcement Agency operatives made two undercover alcohol purchases inside the business using underage operatives who were allegedly not required to show identification.
In addition to revoking the current business license, the council prohibited Together We Thrive LLC, Wild Wing Cafe, Katina Wiggins and Finch from obtaining a business license for 36 months. Wiggins later told The Observer that she is not an owner, operator or manager of Wild Wing Cafe and that her connection to the company is limited to serving as an agent of record.
CLARIFICATION: The Opelika City Council’s resolution included Katina Wiggins among those prohibited from obtaining a business license for 36 months. Wiggins contacted The Observer to clarify that she is not an owner, operator or manager of Wild Wing Cafe and that her connection to the company is as an agent of record. The online story has been updated to reflect that distinction.
Top Shelf Alternatives
The council also approved setting a Sept. 1 public hearing on the possible revocation of the retail business license issued to Top Shelf Alternatives LLC.
Bradley Haddon and Kayla Haddon, identified in the city’s petition as owners of the business, have been charged in connection with an Opelika Police Department investigation. The charges remain pending, and the Haddons have not been convicted of the allegations contained in the city’s petition.
According to the petition, Opelika Vice and Narcotics detectives received information from Alabama ABC Board agents on June 22 concerning alleged sales of flowering bud and pre-rolled cigarettes from Top Shelf Alternatives.
The city alleged controlled purchases were conducted June 25, June 29 and June 30. Products purchased during the investigation initially field-tested positive for THC, according to the petition.
Search warrants were executed July 1 at the business and at the Haddons’ residence. Officers reported seizing suspected marijuana and hemp products, THC/CBD products, business records, cash and other items.
Bradley Haddon was initially charged with three counts of sale or possession of unlawful hemp products, while Kayla Haddon was charged with four counts of sale or possession of unlawful hemp products, according to the city’s petition.
The petition stated that suspected drug evidence was submitted to the Alabama Department of Forensic Sciences and that laboratory reports received July 17 identified the substances as marijuana.
Additional warrants were issued July 21. Bradley Haddon was charged with drug trafficking involving marijuana and two counts of unlawful distribution of a controlled substance. Kayla Haddon was charged with drug trafficking involving marijuana and three counts of unlawful distribution of a controlled substance, according to the petition.
The Revenue Department alleged the evidence showed that Top Shelf Alternatives was conducting business illegally and that the business constituted a public nuisance
The council’s action set the public hearing for Tuesday, Sept. 1, at 6 p.m. at the Municipal Court Building. The city must provide the business with notice of the hearing and grounds for the proposed revocation at least 10 days before the hearing.
Other business:
Mayor Eddie Smith presented the city’s July financial summary and monthly building report and recognized the 2026-27 20 Under 40 class. Mark Grantham from Auburn-Opelika Habitat for Humanity was recognized as August’s Character Council Citizen of Excellent Character.
The July building report showed 101 permits totaling approximately $21.9 million. Fiscal year-to-date figures showed 1,371 permits representing approximately $298.5 million in construction.
- The council also approved changing the name of JoAnn Drive to Faith Way. The roadway serves the former JoAnn Stores Distribution Center property, where Faith Technologies is locating. The Planning Commission previously gave the change a unanimous favorable recommendation.
- An ordinance introduced Tuesday modified school-zone times for Fox Run School and changed the name of Auburn Classical Academy to Logos Classical Christian Academy in the city code. Under the ordinance, the Fox Run Parkway school zone has a 25 mph speed limit from 7 to 8:30 a.m. and 2:55 to 4 p.m. The Logos Classical Christian Academy school zone on Waverly Parkway has a 20 mph speed limit from 7:30 to 8 a.m. and 2:30 to 3 p.m., Monday through Thursday. The ordinance corrected an error in the school-zone times and updated the name of the school. The council suspended the rules and voted to approve the ordinance during Tuesday night’s meeting.
The council also approved the following consent agenda items:
- An alcohol license for A Joo LLC, doing business as Korean BBQ and Hot Pot, for restaurant retail liquor.
- An alcohol license for King426 Inc., doing business as King Mart Liquor, for a Lounge Retail Liquor Class 2 package store.
- A request for the annual Life Chain event Oct. 4.
- A resolution declaring city personal property surplus and authorizing its disposal.
- Expense reports from various departments.
- The purchase of a 2027 Chevrolet Tahoe Z71 for Economic Development for $79,646.05. The Opelika Industrial Development Authority will reimburse the city for the purchase.
- A $400,000 change order to the 2026 citywide resurfacing contract with East Alabama Paving Co., increasing the contract from $800,000 to $1.2 million. Additional work will include Fruitwood Court, Maple Avenue, Darden Street, Brannon Avenue, Centerhill Drive and Enterprise Drive
- Renewal of the contract with JC Construction for the citywide ADA improvements project.
- A right-of-way encroachment agreement at 314 N. 11th St.
- Reappointment of Jervis Hairston to the Celebrate Alabama Improvement District Board for a term expiring Aug. 5, 2032.
- Reappointment of Marvin Bolinger to the Celebrate Alabama Improvement District Board for a term expiring Aug. 5, 2032.
