You are reading

State Suspends Liquor Licenses of Two Bars and a Pizzeria in Queens

M.I.A. in Astoria (M.I.A. Facebook)

July 21, 2020 By Allie Griffin

The state has suspended the liquor licenses of three Queens establishments after their customers were found to be disobeying social distancing rules and mask requirements.

Two bars in Astoria and a pizzeria in Maspeth each had their liquor licenses suspended by the State Liquor Authority Monday, Governor Andrew Cuomo announced today.

Brik Astoria, located at 32-16 Steinway St, and M.I.A., located at 27-35 21st St., each can no longer serve alcohol, as well as Maspeth Pizza House, located at 55-60 60th St., until further notice.

It’s not the first time Brik Astoria has been reprimanded for violating COVID-19 rules.

The bar and hookah lounge was suspended from the city’s curbside dining program Sunday after videos surfaced on social media showing massive crowds over the weekend lingering outside the lounge, while blatantly disobeying mask requirements and social distancing orders.

Brik Astoria has been a repeat offender, a state official said. The bar was written up several times in June for violating social distancing requirements.

Astoria has proven to be a particular problem area.

M.I.A. has also been cited for violating the governor’s social distancing requirements. Dozens of patrons were found to be congregating and drinking without ordering food on several occasions, according to the state official.

Maspeth Pizza House is also a repeat offender, the state official said. The pizzeria has been cited for serving alcohol to standing and dancing patrons on multiple occasions, including on July 10 and July 19.  SLA investigators also witnessed servers without face coverings, the official said.

Cuomo said it was important that patrons keep away from troublesome establishments that don’t abide by the rules.

He told young partiers to quit being “stupid” at a press conference Monday. Today, he called their actions “dangerous.”

“The restaurants and bars that encourage young people to congregate threaten to bring us back to the hell we experienced three months ago,” Cuomo said. “This is a dangerous situation, and the bad operators will make it worse for themselves and everyone.”

A strip club on Long Island also had its liquor license suspended Monday, Cuomo announced.

The SLA has suspended the liquor licenses of 27 establishments across the state for violating social distancing rules, according to published reports.

email the author: news@queenspost.com
No comments yet

Leave a Comment
Reply to this Comment

All comments are subject to moderation before being posted.

This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.

Recent News

Homeless men charged in deadly 7 train subway brawl in Woodside: DA

Three homeless men were arraigned in Queens Criminal Court on Tuesday and variously charged with felony robbery, attempted gang assault, and assault for allegedly stealing the belongings of a 69-year-old homeless man who was asleep on a Manhattan-bound 7 train in Woodside early Sunday morning.

The victim woke up and tried to regain his property. During the ensuing brawl, the victim fatally stabbed a 37-year-old assailant and slashed a second man. The victim has not been charged in the fatal stabbing. The investigation by the NYPD’s Queens Homicide Squad and members of the 108th Precinct in Long Island City remains ongoing.