Giant Underground Karaoke Party Busted In Brooklyn 'Orange Zone'

BROOKLYN, NY — An underground karaoke party with 100 people and open drug use was busted in a Brooklyn zone meant to be on coronavirus-induced lockdown, the governor announced.

39 Fantastic Bar on Eighth Avenue was among eight New York City bars that had their liquor licenses temporarily suspended by the New York State Liquor Authority in the most recent round of inspections under Gov. Andrew Cuomo's crackdown coronavirus-related restrictions.

The Sunset Park bar — which was in the "orange zone" of lockdown restrictions — was found holding a secret karaoke party in its basement on Oct. 10 even though indoor dining was banned at the time.

"Officers discovered ten karaoke rooms filled with patrons singing, drinking and using controlled substances in plain view," a release from the governor's office read.

The NYPD officers had gone into the bar after noticing it was "slipping patrons inside" even though windows were covered to make it look like it was closed, according to the Governor's Office.

A security guard tried to stop the cops at the door, but they eventually got in.

The underground party had about 100 people even though the basement had a maximum occupancy of only 25, according to the state.

In addition to the liquor license suspension, officers arrested seven people for ketamine possession and gave a summons to the bar manager for "operating a disorderly premise."

Another Brooklyn bar was also included in the latest liquor license suspensions.

That bar, Wise Bar & Grill on Neptune Avenue, was also in a coronavirus "orange zone," where indoor dining was prohibited.

Inspectors with the governor's task force found 24 people eating and drinking inside after noticing people without face masks waiting outside for a table, the governor's office said. A kitchen employee was also not wearing a face mask.

Almost 40 Brooklyn spots have had their licenses suspended since Gov. Andrew Cuomo convened a task force of investigators earlier this summer amid videos of late-night, maskless partiers in New York City.

Other violations include nightclub House of Yes, a Bed-Stuy restaurant with a hookah shed in the backyard, a "party boat" in Red Hook and a Sheepshead Bay bar with a 150-person party on the roof.

Businesses face fines as high as $10,000 or immediate suspension of their liquor license for violating COVID-19 regulations.