Shuttered Pantego dance studio reopens after city reverses decision
A Pantego dance studio will resume operations Tuesday night after the town council reinstated the business’ certificate of occupancy, the owner told the Star-Telegram.
The United Performing Arts Company, which has operated in Pantego for more than two decades, had its certificate suspended by the town’s council days after a shooting occurred on the street near the business on Feb. 13.
That night, UPAC rented its space to a third-party music event, owner Angie Meister said. Armed and unarmed security guards were present, and event attendees were searched before they could enter.
“Sometime around 12:45 a.m., it sounded like several shots were fired in the neighborhood north of the studio,” Meister said in a text message. “Our security cameras show no one was in or around our parking lot at the time except security. No one else is visible in or across the street in the footage.”
Pantego police officers were present as attendees of the music event left, but neither guests nor law enforcement said anything about suspected gunshots, Meister said. On Feb. 17, Meister was notified that the town had suspended the certificate of occupancy and that the business could not continue to operate.
Meister’s attorney William King sent a letter to city leaders Monday asking them to reverse that decision, Meister said. In the letter, King cites concerns about a lack of evidence and lack of due process.
“By revoking the CO and shuttering UPAC’s business with zero notice or chance to be heard, the Town has deprived a family-owned and operated children’s dance studio of any semblance of due process guaranteed under the federal and state constitution,” King wrote.
The business was the target of harassment after a social media post by town officials, King said in the letter. The day after the incident, an unknown man entered the studio and “verbally accosted” a staff member meeting with a potential new client, causing the client to leave.
“Unknown vehicles have also on several occasions driven slowly by the home of UPAC’s director,” the letter reads. “Just this morning, another unknown male was recorded on video attempting to enter UPAC while shaking its locked entryway doors.”
At a packed council meeting Monday night, residents voiced concerns about the town’s decision, according to Star-Telegram media partner WFAA-TV.
“What concerns me is the precedence this sets. If a shooting occurs near a business, are we gonna revoke their certificate of occupancy because of one incident?” one speaker asked.
In a letter Tuesday informing Meister of the reinstatement, town officials apologized for the inconvenience and noted that investigations into the Feb. 13 incident are ongoing.
“We’re glad to be back doing what we love with our UPAC family and let our families know classes will be back at the studio tonight,” Meister said.