Home Restaurant and Lounge (Photo: Tara Law)
Oct. 9, 2018 By Tara Law
One of Astoria’s most unruly bars has had its liquor license suspended.
Home Restaurant and Lounge, located at 28-49 Steinway St., is no longer permitted to serve alcohol, the State Liquor Authority announced on Oct. 4. The authority said that it aims to permanently revoke the bar’s license.
The suspension follows 17 violent episodes at the bar since January, including patrons being slashed, women being sexually assaulted and a bouncer punching a customer in the face with brass knuckles.
“This licensee has demonstrated an inability to comply with the law and has taken zero measures to provide for the safety of their patrons,” the SLA said in a statement. “Home has become a continuous source of disorder for the NYPD’s 114th Precinct.”
Monica Marquez, a Home bartender, was sitting idly at the restaurant’s bar on Tuesday afternoon. Marquez said that the restaurant was continuing to serve hookah and food, but that things were difficult since the bar could not serve alcohol.
“It sucks because people come in to drink alcohol, and we can’t serve them,” Marquez said. “And we don’t know when we’re going to get our license back.”
The bar’s owner could not be reached for comment.
Home has had a liquor license for a little over a year, but there have been more than 100 complaints about the establishment through 311 and 911, according Pauline Jannelli, a member of Community Board 1’s Consumer Affairs committee, which reviews liquor license applications.
The most recent incident took place on Sept. 30, when a bouncer working at the bar assaulted a “heavily intoxicated” bar patron, the SLA said. The customer ended up with a broken jaw and other injuries.
Other incidents included a patron slashing another man with a broken bottle on Aug. 8; an unlicensed bouncer caught with a BB gun and gravity knife in front of the premises on March 18; and a bouncer wearing brass knuckles while punching a customer on Jan. 8.
A joint SLA and the NYPD Vice inspection at the bar on March 7 also found 25 violations that led to 19 criminal court summonses.
The day before the bar’s license was revoked, the authority charged Home with three violations of alcoholic beverage control law: operating a disorderly premise, failure to conform with their application, and lack of supervision.
The authority also has three pending cases against the bar for serving intoxicated patrons, employing unlicensed bouncers, and for becoming a focal point for police attention.
The authority’s decision to suspend Home’s license came a few weeks after Community Board 1 unanimously voted against the bar’s request to renew its liquor license.
“Home is a danger to the community, and a drain on the 114 [Precinct],” Jannelli said.
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23 Comments
Now they need to close that Melody Cafe that’s been open for five years. I’ve complained nearly 300 times about that place, to everyone in government. Crickets. That part of Astoria used to be nice. Now it’s the South Bronx. So glad I got out of there when I did.
These places attract to much trouble as an realtor and investor this is isn’t Crooklyn or the Bronx want mayhem go over there not here
I’m praying Home will be shut down permanently because I live right next to Home and it’s not only on these few instances that they’ve caused a ruckus. They cause ruckus everyday, you just feel in danger everytime you walk by. Not only that, but they love to smoke and puke on my doorstep! I understand they put up signs to ask patrons to be quiet when leaving and to respect the neighbors, but no one reads the tiny sign and no one enforces it. If anything the people who are suppose to enforce it are also part of the noise! People have jobs in the mornings and need sleep, however it’s hard to do so with drunk people screaming and getting into fights. Ever since their liquor liscense has been suspended, there are less cops around this area, I feel much safer when I walk home from work, and peaceful sleep! No screaming and sirens to wake me up.
drunk ppl need some space too, dont be so selfish
Just what Steinway needs another hookah bar nevermind one that is constantly causing trouble shut it down completely
What I would do is hire real security and current on their license to secure. Possibly have a mix of off-duty officers. Have plastic beer bottles and slowly incorporate glass beer bottles when things are up to spec. Hire a bar manager to keep up with the bar and its rules and regulations. New Floor manager if necessary but the general manager should be able to handle the floor and security detail.
Dude, this place is history. One by one, these places will go down. We don’t need thugs coming into our neighborhood to cause trouble. Normal bars in Astoria don’t even have these issues.
This actually was one of the best lounges on steinway compared to the other trash thats near.
Looks like they need John Taffers Bar Rescue help
During the day it seems like a nice Mediterranean Restaurant.
“The suspension follows 17 violent episodes at the bar since January, including patrons being slashed, women being sexually assaulted and a bouncer punching a customer in the face with brass knuckles.” People in Astoria need to wake up and realize what is happening so close to home!!
He’s a bouncer who was probably if not most likely trying to PROTECT THE PATRONS… now let’s feel bad for the unruly drunk man who was also most likely one of the dummies harassing the woman there in the first place.
hopefully M.I.A. Lounge is next on 21st Street is next to go! lots of outstanding violations and also known as another focal point for the NYPD
Gustavo was right about this place.
It’s about time! This whole area has become really dangerous for women and I wish they would just shut down every establishment in this area. It’s about time the owners of the property on Steinway wake up and realize that the majority of our community in Astoria would like to have The establishments on Steinway reflect the quality of shopping that we want and eateries that are safe for women and families to go to. Right now it is disgusting and has been ever since I’ve been in Astoria. Is this whar greed looks like – sure seems that way to me!
Mazal Tov! Let this be the first of many, if not all of the trash lounges on Steinway St. to lose their liquor licenses. Finally, the SLA is waking up as this is truly a win for the community. Make Astoria Great Again!
This place attracts nothing but a criminal element. It needs to be shut down.
It’s worse than Trump’s cabinet!
Hey, troll!
No doubt this place was real trashy which gave to that Astoria’s area a bad name. I think the bar managers, financial analyst, general managers, bodyguards have to spend some time in jail, so they have it on their record for everyone to know who they are before giving them a chance. I went there two times and every time was a disappointment. Ones they overcharged me, and the bar manager instead of helping me, made me pay for the extra drinks which I never had. A detail about me, I never get drunk because I know my limits, my absolute maximum is 3 drinks. The other time a friend of mine made me go back there so I went, and guess what, I got very sick from their drinks. Never going back there for no reason and for no one, everyone should avoid it at all cost.
TLDR
Hope this ghetto trash shithole closes down. Poser thug herbs congregate outside flexing-trying to look hard to the aging Greek women walking down Steinway.
Damn they got kouklas like that on Steinway?