Ethan T. Maldonado 
Jose Rodriguez/THE RIDER
The City of McAllen named The Flying Walrus among 20 downtown bars said to lose special use permits in a Sept. 2 crackdown on underage drinking and safety violations. The bar’s owner said the venue is in compliance and wants clearer communication from city officials.
The enforcement followed an Aug. 29 city workshop in which residents urged officials to address underage drinking downtown. Less than 12 hours later, McAllen announced that it had revoked permits for 20 bars citing operators who failed to implement safeguards such as ID scanners and ultraviolet ink to mark minors, according to a Sept. 5 Facebook post on the City of McAllen TX Government page.
On Sept. 12, the city also said in a news release, it disconnected power to more than a dozen businesses that lacked certificates of occupancy.
“The City of McAllen monitors downtown establishments through inspections and enforcement by Code Enforcement, Police, Fire and Building officials to ensure compliance with permit conditions, city ordinances and state regulations,” wrote Irma Chapa, the city’s director of Public Information, in a statement to The Rider Sept. 12.
Chapa said bars operating under Special Use Permits are subject to inspections and compliance reviews, including checks on hours of operation, occupancy limits, noise levels and safety requirements.
City officials said enforcement will continue as long as operators are out of compliance.
“McAllen will not tolerate businesses that put profit ahead of public safety,” Mayor Javier Villalobos said in the Sept. 2 news release. “The rules are clear, and they exist to protect our youth, our families and the future of our community.”
The Flying Walrus owner James Alexander said he was surprised to see his bar included in the Sept. 2 news release. He said the venue had received two citations on Aug. 30 but no direct notice that its permit would be revoked.
“The word ‘revocation’ came as a shock,” Alexander said.
He said the bar already had age-verification technology and ultraviolet ink on hand, and began using them the same day as the Aug. 30 citation. Alexander said the city did not clearly explain when those safeguards had to be in place.
“We want accountability and we want safety, but the communication hasn’t been clear,” he said. “Our door remains open to the city, and we’d like to have a constructive conversation about solutions moving forward.”
Alexander also said the bar has installed cameras, hired security and provided harm-reduction resources such as Narcan through a vending machine.
“Accountability isn’t a bad thing,” he said. “But when the rhetoric gets out of hand and becomes demonizing, that’s where it gets dangerous.”
Alexander said the Walrus has also worked with student groups and community organizations, hosting fundraisers and offering space for open discussion.
“What we do is provide a space for open exchange of ideas and for people to feel safe in doing so,” he said.
In a news release Sept. 15, McAllen announced that permitting specialists from departments including Planning, Building Inspections, Health and Code Compliance, and the Fire Marshal’s Office would be available to downtown business owners at the McAllen Development Center through the end of the week.
City officials said the effort is intended to clarify procedures and expedite pending permits.
“The Entertainment and Cultural Overlay District is not only a vibrant cultural hub but also a significant economic driver for our community,” Villalobos said in the announcement. “Ensuring compliance with permitting requirements is essential to public safety and the continued vitality of our downtown district.”
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