New York State Officials Shut Down East Harlem Nightclub Amid Allegations of X-Rated Activities
In a move that marks a significant victory for community members who have long complained about the venue's illicit activities, New York State officials have rescinded the liquor license of Bodega Paradise, an East Harlem nightclub that was operating as a de facto adult establishment despite city prohibitions.
The decision to revoke the club's license comes after a thorough investigation by Gothamist, which revealed that the venue had been hosting events that clearly violated city zoning rules for residential areas. The State Liquor Authority found evidence of women dancing in fishnets and thongs in front of customers who were throwing cash, while bartenders offered to expose their genitals and allowed patrons to grope them for a fee.
The club's owner, Alex Meskouris, had claimed that the business would operate as a breakfast spot and sports bar when it opened in May, but the State Liquor Authority had granted a temporary permit in March despite community board objections. However, after a hearing this week, Commissioner Edgar De Leon detailed a litany of similar violations discovered during full operation, including containers of gasoline in the basement and a three-hour delay to order pizza.
The decision is a significant blow to Meskouris, who had claimed that the allegations against him were "completely false and offensive." However, his attorney acknowledged that mistakes had been made and offered little explanation for the club's violations. Meanwhile, City officials have acknowledged that they did not inspect the venue while it was open like the state did, but said they will continue to closely monitor the situation to ensure full compliance.
The revocation of Bodega Paradise's liquor license marks another example of the outgoing Adams administration's spotty oversight over the city's nightlife. The club's closure is also seen as a victory for community members who had been raising concerns about the venue's activities, with one resident group saying that they wished city officials had listened to their alarms more.
The case has sparked debate about the role of state and local authorities in regulating nightlife venues, with some arguing that the current system is not effective in preventing illicit activities. As for Meskouris, his future plans are uncertain, but it is clear that he will face significant challenges in attempting to reopen his business without a liquor license.
In a move that marks a significant victory for community members who have long complained about the venue's illicit activities, New York State officials have rescinded the liquor license of Bodega Paradise, an East Harlem nightclub that was operating as a de facto adult establishment despite city prohibitions.
The decision to revoke the club's license comes after a thorough investigation by Gothamist, which revealed that the venue had been hosting events that clearly violated city zoning rules for residential areas. The State Liquor Authority found evidence of women dancing in fishnets and thongs in front of customers who were throwing cash, while bartenders offered to expose their genitals and allowed patrons to grope them for a fee.
The club's owner, Alex Meskouris, had claimed that the business would operate as a breakfast spot and sports bar when it opened in May, but the State Liquor Authority had granted a temporary permit in March despite community board objections. However, after a hearing this week, Commissioner Edgar De Leon detailed a litany of similar violations discovered during full operation, including containers of gasoline in the basement and a three-hour delay to order pizza.
The decision is a significant blow to Meskouris, who had claimed that the allegations against him were "completely false and offensive." However, his attorney acknowledged that mistakes had been made and offered little explanation for the club's violations. Meanwhile, City officials have acknowledged that they did not inspect the venue while it was open like the state did, but said they will continue to closely monitor the situation to ensure full compliance.
The revocation of Bodega Paradise's liquor license marks another example of the outgoing Adams administration's spotty oversight over the city's nightlife. The club's closure is also seen as a victory for community members who had been raising concerns about the venue's activities, with one resident group saying that they wished city officials had listened to their alarms more.
The case has sparked debate about the role of state and local authorities in regulating nightlife venues, with some arguing that the current system is not effective in preventing illicit activities. As for Meskouris, his future plans are uncertain, but it is clear that he will face significant challenges in attempting to reopen his business without a liquor license.
i feel so much for the community members who were complaining about this place and now they can finally get some peace and quiet 
also idk what's up with the state liquor authority tho why r they still handing out licenses to places like this? 
anywayz i hope alex meskouris is facing major consequences for this because let's be real this is not cool 
! like who throws cash at people in fishnets and thongs?! 
and containers of gasoline in the basement?! that's just crazy 
the state liquor authority needs to be all over this place ASAP! 
and city officials need to get their act together too, it's not like they didn't know what was going on in that club 
i mean what's next? is the whole nightlife scene gonna collapse?! 
at least now the community gets some closure and the club can't operate like that anymore 
btw has anyone else seen that gas tank in the basement pic?! 
I'm so tired of these wild nightclubs popping up everywhere. It's like they think no one's watching, you know? 
It's about time someone took responsibility for these adult establishments and made sure they're following the rules. But now, where's Alex going next? 
One thing's for sure: he won't be getting a liquor license anytime soon 
. The city should be all over this guy Alex Meskouris, but instead they're just shutting him down without a fight. I don't get it. Can't they see what's going on here? It's not about the club being "adult" or anything like that - it's about basic human decency and respect for the community.
. It's gonna be interesting to see what happens next with Meskouris and his future plans. One thing's for sure - he's not gonna be shaking things up anytime soon without a liquor license 
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I mean, I know some people might think it's a bit weird that a club has to follow rules and stuff, but isn't that what we want in our communities, right? Safety and all that. And now Alex Meskouris is all upset about the liquor license being revoked... 
.
. I can imagine how frustrating it must be to have someone take advantage of you, especially when you're just trying to enjoy some music or have a drink with friends 
. The fact that the owner was claiming it would be different than what was really going on is just wow... shady 
. I hope Alex Meskouris can learn from his mistakes and move on, but I'm also worried about how this might affect other business owners in the area 
. It's a reminder that we need to look out for each other and hold those in power accountable 
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! The State Liquor Authority needs to do its job and make sure these places are shut down before they cause more harm 
!
... like back in my day, we didn't need some state official coming down on a club just 'cause they were gettin' a little wild 
. I mean, everyone's got their own way of chillin', right? But I guess that's just not the case no more. It's like, you gotta follow the rules or else 
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. Maybe there's just somethin' better way, but for now, it's just too much 
The fact that the State Liquor Authority stepped in to shut it down shows they're taking nightlife regulations seriously. Maybe this will inspire some positive change? 
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just can't believe what's going on in East Harlem! I mean, I've heard of some wild parties in my time, but this takes the cake 
. It's crazy that some people think they can get away with whatever and the authorities won't do anything about it. But at least the State Liquor Authority is doing its job and shutting down Bodega Paradise before someone gets hurt or worse 
. I hope Alex Meskouris has to answer for his mistakes, but I also feel bad for him since he's clearly made some costly errors 
. Maybe it's a chance for him to re-think what he wants to do with Bodega Paradise... maybe open it up as a legit breakfast spot or sports bar like he promised 
. Either way, it's good that something got done about this stuff