Gold Room BK Loses Liquor License For Flouting Coronavirus Rules

PROSPECT LEFFERTS GARDENS, BROOKLYN — A Rogers Avenue restaurant and cocktail lounge was one of seven Brooklyn eateries to have its liquor license pulled for not following rules meant to stop the spread of the coronavirus.

Gold Room BK, which sits on the corner of Lefferts Avenue, had its liquor license temporarily suspended by the New York State Liquor Authority after inspectors found people eating and drinking inside and ignoring social distancing rules on Friday, according to Gov. Andrew Cuomo's office.

Indoor dining still isn't allowed in New York City as the state tries to prevent a resurgence of COVID-19.

The restaurant was among seven Brooklyn spots cited by the Liquor Authority the last two weeks for violating rules meant to prevent the spread of the coronavirus. 38 establishments across the state had their licenses pulled in the latest round of suspensions.

"Noncompliance will lead us right back right where we were just a few months ago — so we must continue to crack down on the bad actors who violate the law and risk everyone's health and safety," said Cuomo, who convened the task force of investigators to check on the state's bars after videos of late-night, maskless partiers.

In total, 15 Brooklyn establishments — including a "party boat" in Red Hook —have been penalized by the authority since the governor started his crackdown.

At Gold Room, inspectors found two customers eating and drinking inside and another two people standing and drinking at the bar. Three customers and two employees were also not wearing face masks or social distancing, according to the governor's office.

In addition to the indoor dining ban, establishments are also not allowed to serve alcohol to people without "substantial food."

The seven Brooklyn restaurants to most recently have their liquor licenses pulled also include a Bed-Stuy restaurant where people were found drinking and smoking hookah in a shed in the backyard.

A Sheepshead Bay restaurant that the NYPD have had to visit regularly was also cited. Inspectors found 150 to 200 people both inside and outside the Signature and Faberge restaurant at 1:30 a.m. on July 24, according to the governor's office.

Halsey Bar & Grill in the Flatlands, The Juicy Box in East Midwood, Ponte Vecchio Restaurant in Bay Ridge and Gran Torino in Williamsburg also had liquor licenses suspended.

More liquor license suspensions for Brooklyn bars are likely in the works.

The governor's task force checked up on establishments 6,887 times this week and found violations at 162 of them, according to the governor's office.

Cuomo said that formal charges from the latest inspections are being prepared.

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