A Long Island City bar with a history of violence and lack of cooperation with the NYPD has had its liquor license suspended, according to the State Liquor Authority (SLA).
The authority announced that as of Nov. 6, no alcohol could be consumed or sold at Soel Lounge Inc., known as “Embassy Lounge,” at 33-02 Queens Blvd. During the suspension period, the SLA intends to seek the permanent cancelation or revocation of the license.
“This licensee has taken no actions to stem the violent incidents and rampant disorder that are occurring at this bar on a regular basis,” said Counsel to the Authority Christopher R. Riano. “The complete failure to supervise or offer help to patrons assaulted at his establishment poses an imminent threat to the community, and I applaud the Authority for shutting down this establishment.”
Embassy Lounge has had a recent history of disorderly conduct and violence on the premises. On Oct. 2, 2018, a brawl broke out between intoxicated patrons, resulting in a female patron being hit in the head by a bottle. The licensee refused to call an ambulance for the patron, however multiple NYPD units had been called to the scene to break up the fight.
Less than one week later on Oct. 7, an Embassy Lounge patron that was involved in an altercation inside the bar was later assaulted by five men outside the bar, where he was punched, kicked and slashed. The patron ultimately needed 62 staples for his injuries. The licensee’s employees refused to share video surveillance with the NYPD.
Following these assaults, the NYPD issued 40 summonses to the Embassy Lounge for fire and safety code violations after a joint inspection of the bar with the SLA.
One of the more violent incidents took place at the bar on Oct. 26, 2018. A female bar patron was stabbed by another patron, resulting in the loss of her eye, and the licensee failed to call 911 to report the incident. Later, the licensee refused to turn over surveillance footage of the incident to the NYPD.
On Nov. 2, the SLA charged the Embassy Lounge with twenty-one violations of the ABC law, including operating a disorderly premise, employing a felon, failure to maintain books and records, and improper conduct for refusing to provide medical aid to an injured patron. The Embassy Lounge also had pending cases from the SLA for employing unlicensed bouncers, operating a disorderly premise and failure to supervise their patrons.
Additionally, the SLA fined Embassy Lounge $15,000 on May 2, 2018 for six charges of operating a disorderly premise.
