By Bill Parry
An Astoria strip club closed down last week after losing its liquor license for becoming “a focal point for police attention,” according to the State Liquor Authority.
State Sen. Michael Gianaris (D-Astoria) and community leaders began a campaign to close Aces New York last March, calling the gentlemen’s club a menace to the neighborhood that posed a danger to the community.
The strip club, at 31-10 37th Ave., between 32nd and 33rd streets, had its license revoked Sept. 12 following an August hearing before the SLA ruled it demonstrated a “sustained and continuing pattern of noise, misconduct or disorder,” records show. The 114th Precinct indicated that a disproportionate number of disturbing incidents were coming from the club, including gang-related shootings, arrests and summonses.
In May 2016, a fight broke out in the club before moving outside on to 37th Avenue where a customer was shot in the foot. That year, there were 252 calls placed to 911 to report incidents and criminal activity related to Aces New York, according to Gianaris’ office.
“It is a success for our neighborhood to get this source of community unrest shut down, but we must remain vigilant,” Gianaris said. “I will continue making sure our streets are safe, and our neighbors live in a community with a robust quality of life.”
Reach reporter Bill Parry by e-mail at bparr
