3 Westchester Bars' Licenses Suspended Over Pandemic Rules

YONKERS, NY — New York officials have suspended liquor licenses for 36 additional bars and restaurants in the state, including three in Westchester County, over violations of pandemic-related executive orders.

Gov. Andrew Cuomo announced the sanctions Tuesday, saying the businesses were undermining New Yorkers who were following the protocols to keep themselves and their communities safe.

"Unfortunately, however, some establishments have continued to ignore the rules, putting their customers, as well as their community as a whole, at risk," Cuomo said. "We know the vaccine is on the way, we know there is a light at the end of the tunnel, but if we let up now and become undisciplined, it's going to take us even longer to get there."

Most of the bars were in New York City, including the bar whose owner hit a police officer with his car. SEE: Large Crowd Of Supporters Protests Shutdown Of Mac's Public House, Staten Island Bar That Defied COVID Restrictions.

Outside of New York City, five were on Long Island, three in Westchester, and five were upstate. The Westchester bars were all on South Broadway in Yonkers, including one that only opened in August.

The suspensions were all for large-scale violations alleged by investigators. State officials offered these descriptions:

• Uptown Bar & Grill at 623 South Broadway. On Oct. 17, officers with the Yonkers Police Department conducted a compliance check of the premises, finding 168 patrons crowded inside the establishment, which had a maximum capacity of 88 before the pandemic and could legally hold 44 patrons under COVID-related regulations. Police report that the number of patrons inside made social distancing impossible and numerous patrons without facial coverings were mingling, dancing and drinking. Officers noted no food was being served, documented several employees without facial coverings, and observed several individuals smoking hookah throughout the premises. The location is a repeat offender, with pending charges for multiple violations issued by the SLA a month earlier.
• Sahara Café at 473 South Broadway. On Oct. 25, SLA investigators and officials with the Yonkers Fire Department conducted a compliance check on the premises, discovering 124 patrons packed shoulder-to-shoulder inside the establishment -- which had a pre-pandemic maximum occupancy of 48 and could legally hold just 24 patrons under COVID-related regulations. The crowded conditions made social distancing impossible and investigators documented no food being served and numerous patrons smoking hookah in apparent violation of the NYS Indoor Smoking Act. The premises was also cited for illegally expanding into their backyard and the Yonkers Fire Department issued a stop work order. Sahara Café was originally licensed just two months earlier on Aug. 24.
• Margarita’s Restaurant & Lounge at 332-334 South Broadway. On Oct. 25, officers with the Yonkers Police Department inspected the premises shortly after midnight and found over 100 patrons crowded inside -- nearly double the maximum occupancy allowed under COVID-related regulations -- not wearing facial coverings, dancing, and smoking hookah. Officers also found a DJ performing, with music audible a block away. The following evening, SLA investigators conducted a follow-up inspection, once again finding a DJ, two employees not wearing facial coverings, and ten patrons not wearing facial coverings while standing and mingling.

The state has now suspended the licenses of nearly 280 bars and restaurants accused of violating coronavirus safety measures. Many of the businesses were investigated by the New York State Liquor Authority, local law enforcement and fire marshals.

In addition to license suspensions, the state has issued 1,867 charges against bars and restaurants accused of violating coronavirus safety rules. These charges can carry fines up to $10,000 per charge and can culminate in the business having its liquor license revoked.

Patch Editor Alex Costello contributed to this report.