'We Did It To Survive': Huntington Bar Owner On Overcrowding

HUNTINGTON, NY — Bar Petite, a restaurant and bar in Huntington, is struggling to stay afloat after its liquor license was pulled by the New York State Liquor Authority due to overcrowding.

John Conzone, who founded the eatery in summer 2019, admitted his restaurant was not following Gov. Andrew Cuomo's executive order on maximum capacity for indoor dining. Until March 19, when the state expanded indoor dining capacity to 75 percent, maximum capacity during the coronavirus pandemic had been 50 percent. For Bar Petite, a small space at 56 Stewart Ave., that meant no more than seven people. Conzone said he had 18 patrons in when he was paid a visit by the liquor authority.

Conzone, 50, of West Islip, admitted the restaurant was overcrowded.

"I’m not saying it proudly or happily," he told Patch. "We did it to survive, though. If I would’ve followed their protocol, I would’ve been out of business last year just based on the numbers."

Conzone has a wife, two children and a home, he said.

"I’m not trying to justify my actions," he said. "But we did it for the sake of my family. What was I going to do? Obviously, in the middle of a pandemic, some things were enacted. Rules, laws. Stuff people had to follow. I respect that. But with that being said, my first priority is my family above everything else."

Conzone said the liquor authority told him it had been receiving complaints about Bar Petite since August. He had not received a visit from the agency until recently.

Bar Petite's liquor license was revoked, and the business was slammed with a $25,000 civil penalty to get the license reinstated, Conzone said.

Fans of Bar Petite have come to the eatery's defense. More than 100 donors have raised about $14,000 on a GoFundMe campaign in support of the restaurant.

"Hey everyone you know and I know the best place to hang out and have a drink with friends is Bar Petite in Huntington," Tara Giambrone, who organized the fundraiser, wrote. "And like so many restaurants Bar Petite has struggled to stay afloat. John showed up every night sometimes with no help to provide us with a place to enjoy ourselves. So please let’s get John and his family back to it so we all can enjoy his good food, great drinks and time with friends."

All GoFundMe proceeds will be used to pay the $25,000 penalty, Conzone said. He said the fundraiser was started by customers out of the goodness of their hearts.

"The people who did this for me are phenomenal people," Conzone said. "They wanted to help and they did. It’s been a tremendous thing for us."

The next issue Conzone faces is actually paying the fine, he said. He can pay the fine now, but the liquor authority scheduled a hearing roughly three weeks from now, he said. Conzone said he was told that the committee that set the fine has to, at a future meeting, determine if the fee is appropriate.

"Well, why can’t I just pay it?" Conzone said. "They’re not letting me pay it, so I have to sit here closed, essentially, without a license, and wait for them. So, it’s not even a speedy process. They’re not trying to help out. It is what it is. We offered to pay them the fine. Full amount. I’m guilty of what I did. Not many people are going to come out and say what I’m saying. Everybody is going to try to dance around. I did what you’re saying. I’ll pay the whole fine, too. They weren’t prepared to let me do that. So now I sit and wait with no liquor license so they can then tell me my fine is still $25,000."

Customers of Bar Petite were told the establishment fills up quickly, and that the eatery never sat someone next to a patron who was uncomfortable, Conzone said.

"It doesn’t make it right in the end, but people came here of their own free will," he said. "They knew the situation."

Overcrowding issues presented themselves when the weather turned cold, according to Conzone. Customers opted to sit outside when it was warm and there was live music. There was "definitely" overcrowding during the winter months, Conzone said.

"People couldn’t sit outside but still wanted to come here, so what was I going to do? The easy answer is, I’ll follow the protocols. But in that sense, it’s suicide for me. It’s Russian Roulette at that point. Do you want to pick up the gun and shoot yourself? Absolutely not."

The business owner said he was faced with a choice between following the state's guidelines and protecting his family.

"It was, ‘Do I keep food on my table and a roof over my family’s house?’" Conzone said. "What’s the old saying? 'Is it wrong to steal a loaf of bread to feed your family?' I have two children. I would never, ever, tell my children to steal, but geez, come on. We’re fighting for scraps at this point for them. That’s what sucks. We’re trying to stay alive."

Conzone plans to pay the penalty once he's able and, from there, get his liquor license back. In addition to the $25,000 fine he was assessed, he estimates he's lost more than $25,000 in revenue while waiting for the liquor authority. Once he is able to serve alcohol again, Conzone said he will not continue to overcrowd.

"Now, if I have another infraction, and I lose my liquor license for six months, a year, or for good, that impacts my family," he said. "I could never do that. Now at this point, I have to be the poster boy for these regulations."

Fortunately, spring is here, and so is warmer weather. Customers dining outdoors is once again an option for Bar Petite, which will help its bottom line.

"We gambled, and maybe we would’ve gotten away with it. That’s fine," Conzone said. "We didn’t. That’s fine. I’ll be the first guy to stand up and say, ‘I’m guilty, and I’ll pay the fine.’ But we had to take a chance. Moving forward, I can’t take that chance anymore. I’ll have to try something else. I’ll start seating people on the roof. Who knows? I’ll figure it out. I did what I did. I did it for my family, because of my family, to ensure their survival."

Conzone is confident his eatery will survive the coronavirus pandemic, and he credited his customers.

"We have probably the most regulars in Huntington. This is not going to set those people back. It might even ignite them to come and support us more."

Bar Petite remains open, and though it can not sell any alcohol, it is offering dine-in and takeout, as well as gift cards, Conzone said. The eatery offers an array of small plates ranging from chicken wings and fish tacos to burgers, flatbreads and charcuterie boards. The restaurant can be reached at 631-819-0165.