COVID Breaches Cost 300 NYC Venues Liquor License, $3.7M In Fines

NEW YORK CITY – More than 300 New York City bars and restaurants have had their liquor licenses revoked by state officials because of coronavirus-related violations with fines totaling more than $3.7 million, state records show.

Individual fines range from $5,000 to $50,000 and date back to last May, before Gov. Andrew Cuomo instituted a “three strikes and you're closed” rule that was implemented to cut down on pandemic party spots.

Since then, a total of 310 eateries, watering holes and catering businesses have lost their liquor licenses. More than 200 of them were reinstated after penalties were paid, according to the records provided to Patch by the governor's office. Just under 100 are still in effect.

The most recent violation – El Paraiso Restaurant in The Bronx – was recorded on April 5, records show. Another restaurant — Lupita Villa, also in The Bronx —has had its license suspended twice for violations, including in August of last year when the restaurant was fined $30,000 and had its license reinstated.

A second violation was reported in January and the suspension is still in effect, the records show.

In total, the city has collected $3,714,500 in fines paid by 206 restaurants and bars. Five restaurants received the most severe fines of $50,000 which were all paid before their liquor licenses were reinstated. Those fines hit:

• White Horse, LLC, Manhattan.
• 138 West Fordham Road Food Corp. in The Bronx.
• Pyramids Hookah and Bar in Queens.
• NY Pizza Café and Spanish Food Restaurant in Brooklyn.
• Bay Ridge Hospitality Group in Brooklyn.