Gothamist
A non-profit newsroom, powered by WNYC.
Gothamist
Listen Live
Food
SLA Suspends Liquor Licenses Of 21 Bars And Restaurants For Flouting COVID-19 Rules
By
David Cruz
Published Oct 25, 2020
Share
FacebookTwitterRedditEmail
Never miss a story
Email address
By submitting your information, you're agreeing to receive communications from New York Public Radio in accordance with our Terms .
Mike Groll/Office of Governor Andrew M. Cuomo
By
David Cruz
Published Oct 25, 2020
Share
FacebookTwitterRedditEmail
We rely on your support to make local news available to all
Make your contribution now and help Gothamist thrive in 2026. Donate today
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
A catering hall that had been operating within a Queens coronavirus red zone is among seven new establishments in NYC that have temporarily lost their liquor licenses after allegedly breaking COVID-19 guidelines, Governor Andrew Cuomo said.
Da Mikelle, a catering hall on Queens Boulevard, was ordered closed after sheriffs deputies and officers from the State Liquor Authority found roughly 70 people inside the venue along with its annexed eatery, Troyka Restaurant. Officers found patrons eating, drinking, and dancing without masks or maintaining social distance, according to an announcement from Cuomo's office. Though its lights were off, the venue still attracted the attention of officers after they heard loud music coming from inside.
At the time of the bust on October 21st, the hall was located in a red zone, completely barring indoor dining, and only allowing take-out or delivery. The maps controlled and monitored by the state have since been updated, designating the area that covers the hall a yellow zone.
Within the orange zone -- which prohibits indoor dining -- investigators found 24 people eating and drinking inside the Wise Bar & Grill, according to the SLA. Violations were allegedly more egregious at 39 Fantastic Bar, where more than 100 people were found hanging out inside the basement that's intended to hold a maximum of 25 people. Investigators -- who were initially kept from going inside -- said they found patrons in ten karaoke rooms "singing, drinking and using controlled substances in plain view." Seven people were arrested for allegedly carrying ketamine on them, and a manager was issued a summons for operating a disorderly business. Both businesses were busted on October 16th.
Between October 14th and 21st, four other businesses have been shut down by the state for COVID-19 violations. They include:
Fat Buddha in Manhattan, where NYPD and state authorities say they "observed over twenty patrons standing, congregating and drinking directly in front of the business without facial coverings well past the 11 p.m. NYC curfew for outside dining." Investigators also spotted people leaving and entering the restaurant with open containers of alcohol.
Rochelle's in Manhattan, which investigators found to be allegedly operating "well past the midnight cut off for indoor service in New York City" and "no evidence of substantial food being served."
Tropical Fantasy Bar & Lounge in Queens, after NYPD officers allegedly found the lounge "using a tent set up on the sidewalk in front of the premises, which was blocking the pedestrian right of way in violation of New York City's Open Restaurants program." Despite numerous visits and warnings by the NYPD "the premises continued to utilize the illegal tent."
Alfie's Place in the Bronx, where "the SLA determined the establishment's liquor license had been illegally sold to a third party without approval." The licensee was "charged with 'availing' the license by allowing persons who are not approved by the SLA to own or operate the premises."
Da Mikelle is the 177th establishment in New York City to be busted by the SLA since March 20th after social distancing measures were instituted to prevent the spread of COVID-19. Of those 80, the SLA temporarily suspended liquor licenses for 36 establishments in Brooklyn, 70 in Queens, 45 in Manhattan, 22 in the Bronx, and 4 in Staten Island.
"Rules are only as good as enforcement, and as we have ramped up checks on bars and restaurants, compliance has increased, creating a safer environment for everyone," Cuomo said in a statement on Friday. "A small number of business owners still don't think the rules apply to them -- even in focus zones where the state has tracked increased spread -- and these suspensions should serve as a reminder that we will take action against those who callously put New Yorkers in harm's way. As we continue to fight 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."
Tagged
COVID-19
Governor Andrew Cuomo
sla
state liquor authority
David Cruz
David is a former WNYC and Gothamist editor.
Read more
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
MORE food
North African restaurants are rare in NYC. These 10 are the best.
Egyptian, Moroccan, Algerian and Tunisian food is delicious but underrepresented in the city.
By
Robert Sietsema
Published Oct 10, 2026
10 dishes that demonstrate the delicious diversity of curry in New York City
The global dish is shapeshifting and ubiquitous.
By
Robert Sietsema
Food
10 dishes that demonstrate the delicious diversity of curry in New York City
The global dish is shapeshifting and ubiquitous.
By
Robert Sietsema
Frozen yogurt is back in New York City. So are the super long lines.
By
Sonia Rao
5 NYC banana puddings as good as Magnolia's
By
Hannah Frishberg
Where to eat in Greenpoint, Brooklyn right now, from Polish to Sichuan to Iberian
By
Robert Sietsema
Never miss a story
Catch up on the most important headlines with a roundup of essential NYC stories, delivered to your inbox daily.
Sign upEmail address
By submitting your information, you're agreeing to receive communications from New York Public Radio in accordance with our Terms .