Inwood Nightclub Opus Lounge Shut Down By State

INWOOD, NY — An Inwood nightclub was shut down the by New York State Liquor Authority after a series of violent incidents at the business, state officials announced.

The State Liquor Authority issued an emergency liquor license revocation for Opus Lounge on West 202nd Street between Ninth and 10th avenues after a bouncer at the club was arrested for assaulting a patron, state officials said.

On Feb. 20 a bouncer struck a nightclub patron in the head with a flashlight directly outside the club entrance, state officials said. The patron was knocked unconscious and suffered a fractured skull and bleeding of the brain, officials said.

A nightclub manager was seen escorting the bouncer off of the business' property before police officers from the local 34th Precinct arrived at the scene, state officials said. On Feb. 26 the bouncer was arrested and charged with felony assault.

State officials claim that the assault was just the latest example of bad behavior at the business. People have called police on Opus Lounge 128 times since January 2018, state officials said. On Dec. 1 an NYPD officer was injured while breaking up fights outside the West 202nd Street club.

The NYPD and SLA raided the business on Sept. 28 and cited the Opus Lounge for 30 violations of the state's Alcoholic Beverage Control law and issued 16 summonses for the business, state officials said.

"This club has become a drain police resources and poses a serious threat to the surrounding neighborhood," Counsel to the State Liquor Authority Christopher R. Riano said in a statement. "Most disturbing, the bar’s manager actively interfered with the police investigation and helped an assailant flee the scene following a felonious assault."