By Gabriel Rom
The State Liquor Authority is set to cancel the Rumba nightclub’s liquor license in Rego Park.
After facing staunch community criticism as well as a string of over 90 violations, the attorney for Rumba voluntarily offered to cancel the club’s liquor license at an SLA meeting in Manhattan, Tuesday.
It will take the SLA 2-4 weeks to process this cancellation request, after which time the cancellation order will be served upon Rumba. Once served, Rumba will not be permitted to sell liquor, according to City Councilwoman Karen Koslowitz (D-Forest Hills), a longtime critic of the club.
“Let today’s event serve as notice upon businesses that they cannot just come into our neighborhood and be a disruptive presence without consequences,” Koslowitz said in a statement released Tuesday afternoon.
On Dec. 18 the venue, at 67-63 Woodhaven Blvd., was visited by the NYPD, FDNY, Department of Health and State Liquor Authority. The site tour resulted in forty violations.
“The patrons are loud and disorderly. Security doesn’t seem to be able to handle the crowds,” said Judith Harrison, 104th Precinct captain in written testimony presented at the hearing. “They create dangerous parking conditions along Woodhaven Boulevard, which is one of our busy traffic corridors. Personally, I am very concerned that someone will eventually end up getting hurt and I’d like very much to prevent that!”
The SLA renewed the venue’s liquor license in July, even though CB6 voted against it in June.
Reach reporter Gabriel Rom by e-mail at grom@
