Nassau Grocery Store Had Secret Nightclub: State

ROOSEVELT, NY — A grocery store in Roosevelt that was operating as a secret nightclub is now facing criminal charges after multiple violations were found during crackdowns over establishments flaunting social distancing guidelines, according to state authorities.

Over the last month, the New York State Liquor Authority (SLA) has been cracking down on bars and restaurants that are not enforcing social distancing guidelines during the coronavirus pandemic. Dox in Island Park was the first bar on Long Island to have its license suspended. EB Elliot's in Freeport and Mio Posto Ristorante in Long Beach also had their licenses suspended.

"New Yorkers' hard work is paying off, with the state maintaining an infection rate of less than 1 percent for over three weeks straight — but we must remain vigilant and continue to follow the guidelines that got us here or risk backsliding," Gov. Andrew Cuomo said in a release. "Compliance in higher-risk industries like bars and restaurants has been key to achieving this progress, and as today's suspensions show, the state will hold bad actors who put public health in danger accountable. The vast majority of bar owners continue to take this public health emergency seriously, but my message to the small number who openly flout the rules is simple: we will not tolerate you putting yourselves, your customers, your employees, your neighbors and our reopening at risk."

The latest Nassau County establishment to face penalties is Sazon Ramirez II, located at 241 Nassau Road in Roosevelt. According to the state, investigators from a state multi-agency task force led by state police and the SLA, along with the Nassau County Police Department and the Nassau County Fire Marshal, investigated the grocery store.

Officials said they found that the store, which is not permitted to serve alcohol, was operating as a nightclub. There were 14 people inside drinking beer, officials said, as well as six employees and the owner, who were not wearing face masks. In the basement, officials say they found 10 people drinking alcohol in a hidden room with a large TV, jukebox and electronic gambling devices.

The store was issued five criminal court summonses by the police, four criminal court summons from the Nassau County Fire Marshall, 20 building code violations and six fire and life safety violations.