After years locked in a battle with a policing hospitality unit, the owner of an Edmonton shisha bar has won his fight to stay open.

On Tuesday, an appeal committee overturned a decision by the city’s licensing department to shut down Nyala Lounge, located northeast of downtown.

“I think the city went one step forward, we appreciate that, as the African-Canadian community, we thank the city councillors,” said owner Mulugeta Tesfay.

“The people spoke, the community spoke, the place is safe.”

The committee — made up of councillors Moe Banga, Jon Dziadyk and Tony Caterina — upheld additional conditions imposed on Nyala last summer and said a written decision would follow.

Members decided the bar’s inability to operate over the past week-and-a-half, during a postponement of the hearing, would serve as sufficient penalty for breaching conditions.

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