NEW YORK (1010 WINS) -- Three eateries in Queens and a gentlemen’s club on Long Island have lost their liquor licenses for violating New York state’s COVID-19 guidelines, Gov. Andrew Cuomo said Tuesday.
The State Liquor Authority suspended the liquor licenses of Brik Bar on Steinway Street in Astoria; M.I.A. Made in Astoria on 21st Street in Astoria; Maspeth Pizza on 60th Street in Maspeth; and Secrets Gentlemen’s Club in Deer Park on Long Island, Cuomo said.
All four establishments "repeatedly” violated Cuomo’s executive orders, a spokesman for the SLA said Tuesday. The suspensions will remain in effect until each business has a hearing and “the matter is determined by the SLA Board,” according to the spokesman.
The State Liquor Authority has suspended 27 licenses for COVID-19-related violations since the pandemic began, Cuomo's office said. The agency has also brought 410 charges against venues across the state for violating executive orders, his office added.
Read what the SLA had to say about the four venues below: - Brik Bar at 32-16 Steinway Street in Astoria: "One of the worst offenders on Steinway Street, where large crowds have assembled for drinking and partying, Brik Bar had been warned and served with SLA violations for allowing crowds to congregate and drink outside on multiple occasions in June. They were observed again in flagrant violation of the Governor’s EO’s this past weekend on July 16th and again on July 18th, ultimately resulting in the NYC Sheriff’s Office serving the location with a cease and desist order on outdoor service, an order issued by the New York City of Department of Transportation."
- M.I.A Made in Astoria at 27-35 21st Street in Astoria: "In another problematic section of Astoria, M.I.A was found to be serving alcohol to dozens of patrons who were standing, drinking, and congregating — and not dining — well past the 11 p.m. NYC curfew for outside dining. M.I.A. had previously been cited and warned for earlier violations of the Governor’s Executive Orders."
- Maspeth Pizza at 5560 60th Street in Maspeth: "Another repeat offender, Maspeth Pizza had been cited and warned on multiple occasions for serving alcohol to standing patrons who were congregating outside its location. On July 10th and 19th, SLA Investigators observed this premises continuing its unlawful service, including after the 11 p.m. curfew, with numerous patrons standing, dancing and drinking alcoholic beverages in violation of social distancing rules. Investigators also witnessed servers with no facial coverings and patrons smoking hookah, in violation of their license."
- Secrets Gentleman’s Club at 3A Saxwood Street in Deer Park: "On July 17th, investigators with the SLA and Suffolk County Police Department conducted an undercover inspection of the premises. The detail observed employees and patrons inside the premises without facemasks, including dancers performing, sharing the same stage pole, and giving lap dances in violation of the Governor’s EO’s and SLA Guidelines prohibiting dancing and adult entertainment during the pandemic. The evidence reflected that when the owner was confronted by an SLA investigator about the problematic dancing, he claimed it must have started without his knowledge after he had left, unaware that he had already been caught on videotape buying drinks for the undercover agents and bragging about getting away with violating the Executive Orders."
