State Pulls Liquor License From 5th Astoria Bar

ASTORIA, QUEENS — It's last call for yet another Astoria bar, as state officials continue a crackdown on businesses accused of "egregious violations" of pandemic-related restrictions.

Republic, at 33-29 Astoria Blvd., became the fifth Astoria business to get its liquor license revoked for flouting rules enacted to curb the spread of COVID-19, Gov. Andrew Cuomo announced Thursday.

Investigators had charged the bar with failing to comply with local regulations on July 2, according to New York State Liquor Authority records.

The suspension comes after state investigators found a "large number" of customers drinking alcohol and smoking hookah outside Republic at 12:30 a.m. on July 24, according to a news release.

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New York City has an 11 p.m. curfew for outdoor dining, and state guidelines call on participating businesses to enforce social distancing guidelines.

"The rising rate of infection among young people and the issue of crowded bars is not unique to New York — the World Health Organization has warned about it, states all across the country are dealing with it, and even the President has said young people should avoid bars — but we are taking decisive action in the Empire State to make sure it does not undermine our progress against the coronavirus," Cuomo said.

Four other Astoria bars have gotten their liquor licenses suspended for violations of coronavirus-related guidelines: The Grand, The Pomeroy, Brik Bar and M.I.A. Restaurant & Lounge were busted by state investigators for violating the 11 p.m. curfew, encouraging crowds and breaking rules on social distancing and face coverings.

The crackdown followed a series of viral videos of late-night, maskless partiers flooding Steinway Street that caught the governor's attention and prompted Mayor Bill de Blasio to promise increased enforcement of pandemic-related rules along Steinway.

Across Queens, the State Liquor Authority has revoked 31 businesses' liquor licenses, according to a Patch analysis of agency data.

The suspensions are effective indefinitely, pending the results of an administrative hearing, when a judge may reinstate the liquor license or permanently revoke the license and issue fines of up to $10,000 per violation, according to Cuomo spokesperson Jack Sterne.

"New Yorkers have sacrificed to bend the curve of coronavirus, and at a time when dozens of states are seeing cases surge, we all have a shared responsibility to keep this virus at bay," State Liquor Authority Chair Vincent Bradley said.