BY BEN VERDE
Two Brooklyn businesses
had their liquor licenses suspended
in recent weeks after
offi cials found them to be violating
pandemic-imposed
executive orders — including
a Sunset Park establishment
in an “orange zone”
that inspectors caught hosting
a massive underground
karaoke party.
On Oct. 16, NYPD offi cers
busted “39 Fantastic Bar”
on Eighth Avenue near 40th
Street for serving people indoors,
according to Gov. Andrew
Cuomo’s offi ce. The
cocktail bar is located in a
designated “orange zone”
due to increased numbers of
coronavirus cases, meaning
indoor dining — even at the
now-approved 25 percent-capacity
— is forbidden.
State offi cials said the
business covered its windows
COURIER L 22 IFE, OCT. 30-NOV. 5, 2020
in order to appear
closed while sneaking patrons
in discretely and, after
getting past a security guard
who tried to deny them entry,
police found over 100 people
crammed into the basement
of the establishment — which
has a regular capacity of 25
— singing, drinking and using
drugs.
Seven people were arrested
at the bar for possession
of Ketamine and the
manager of the bar was issued
a summons for operating
a disorderly premise, according
to Cuomo’s offi ce.
That same day, the state
also suspended the liquor license
of a Coney Island restaurant
on Neptune Avenue
near East 13th Street for
serving patrons inside despite
being located in a designated
“orange zone.”
According to the governor’s
offi ce, state investigators
observed people waiting
for a table outside the Wise
Bar and Grill without face
coverings. When inspectors
entered the restaurant, they
discovered 24 patrons eating
and drinking inside. Offi -
cials also found an employee
in the kitchen working without
a face covering.
The state revoked the license
of six other restaurants
across the fi ve boroughs as
part of a statewide crackdown
on bars and restaurants
by the State Liquor Authority
and New York State’s
multi-agency task force,
Cuomo’s offi ce said Friday —
and offi cials say they’ve seen
compliance rise as enforcement
has increased.
“Rules are only as good
as enforcement, and as we
have ramped up checks on
bars and restaurants, compliance
THE SHOW WON’T GO ON: 39 Fantastic Bar, where state offi cials say
over 100 people were found partying. Google
has increased, creating
a safer environment
for everyone,” Cuomo said
in a statement. “As we continue
to fi ght clusters across
the state, bar and restaurant
owners should know that the
State’s task force will keep
enforcing the law, and if they
do not follow the rules they
will lose their right to serve
alcohol.”
Singing the blues
Sunset Park bar loses liquor license
after 100-person karaoke bash
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