A popular Stokes County music venue, Hollywood Hollow in Lawsonville, has been fined $54,800 for 366 fire code violations. The business will still be allowed to operate after the proper adjustments are made but will be under strict supervision by the Stokes County Fire Marshal’s office.

“We’re working with [the owner],” stated Fire Marshal Frankie Burcham.

The civil penalties were issued after Alcohol Law Enforcement agents notified the Fire Marshal’s office on Saturday night that dangerous violations were in progress at the Jamey Johnson concert. Johnson, a popular country music artist, has recently skyrocketed to stardom and is currently packing in crowds.

One fire code violation was that the business had maintained no fire department access to the building during the jam-packed concert on March 7. A locked exit constituted another violation. The other 364 civil penalties were issued for Hollywood Hollow being 364 people over the maximum occupancy count of 492.

The no access penalty has been assessed at $50. The fine is $150 for the locked exit. Where the money adds up is the $150 charged for every person present above the legal occupancy.

Burcham and Assistant Fire Marshal Travis Grey reported to the concert after the call from ALE agents. They found the reports of horrendous overcrowding and multitudes of vehicles packed in like sardines to be true. “We had ’em go on stage and make an announcement,” Burcham explained how the situation was initially handled.

The directive was that everyone must go outside. Then Burcham and Grey began to allow concertgoers back inside, counting them off as they entered the venue. When the number reached 492, the doors were shut.

Many Johnson fans were distraught that they were not allowed to re-enter the concert. Some claimed to have come from as far as four hours away and had great expense in the venture, including booking hotel rooms.

Fights broke out, more frequently as the final occupants were counted off. The Stokes County Sheriff’s Department was on hand to help, and the Patrick County Sheriff’s Department was called in to assist. No arrests were made.

Burcham realizes that the fans who missed out on the concert may think of him as the villain in the situation, but he insists he was merely doing his job. “The county’s responsibility and my responsibility is to make sure they stay safe,” Burcham stated on Monday.

This has not been the case in other episodes across the country in which nightclubs were overcrowded. A fire which broke out in February 2003 during a Great White concert at The Station in West Warwick, Rhode Island, killed 100 people and injured 200 more. Those who died were trapped in the burning building due to locked exits and overcrowding.

Hollywood Hollow’s owner Brandon Stahley said that he was aware he was over the limit, but that he had evaluated the size of the building and felt it was safe. He received reports of counterfeit tickets being sold and that people were even selling them in the parking lot. He asks that anyone with information about the fake tickets contact him at 593-3300 or the Sheriff’s Department at 593-8787.

Stahley issued this statement: “I want to apologize to every legitimate ticket holder that didn’t get in the show. If they give Hollywood Hollow another chance, it will not happen again. We’re gonna continue to try to bring A-list artists to Stokes County.”

Stahley noted that he is working with the fire marshal to put in more exits so that the business can hold more people. He is also planning to use third-party ticket vendors in the future.

Already he is in negotiation with Jamey Johnson, who contacted him, to do another show—this time outdoors. Stahley says that anyone who would like to present their ticket stub from the Johnson concert will be admitted to an upcoming show at half-price, if they contact him ahead of time. “If they still feel wronged, we’re gonna make it right with another show in the future,” he avowed.