By: Hellen Zaboulani
New York City’s sheriff’s office shut down a karaoke bar in Queens after finding close to 200 revelers at the location on early Sunday morning.
As reported by the NY Post, deputies arrived at Home Run KTV at 46-07 Kissena Boulevard in Flushing just after midnight to find about 192 people partying in the karaoke rooms, in violation of New York City’s coronavirus laws. The city said that authorities found people drinking alcohol, smoking, not wearing masks, and not maintaining a safe social distance from one another. The Post reported that Home Run KTV’s liquor license was also not active.
Patrick Yam, the owner of the bar who is from Cliffside Park, New Jersey, was given eight summonses. The summonses included: the COVID-19 violation, unauthorized sale and storage of alcohol, covered windows and employing unlicensed security. The security guard was identified as having neglected to attend security training. Revelers at the packed bar on Sunday morning were given masks and sent on their way by about 3 A.M. The bar and Mr. Yam did not respond to the Post’s requests for comment.
The incident marks the city’s fourth sting in less than a month against karaoke bars for COVID-19 violations. There were two more similar busts in Flushing, and one in Borough Park, Brooklyn. On September 6, Legend KTV in Borough Park became the third karaoke bar shuttered by the New York City Sheriff’s Office and the state Liquor Authority. As per the Post, authorities there had discovered over 281 people packed inside, including a child under the age of 10. It was almost 2 a.m. early Sunday, at the 61st Street nightspot when the Sherriff’s office found patrons drinking, dancing, and smoking, without wearing masks or adhering to social distancing guidelines. The bar’s occupancy limit of 245 persons was also surpassed, as per authorities. The Liquor Authority revoked the bar’s license, and numerous summonses were doled out for violating the Mayor’s Coronavirus restrictions.
Days earlier, deputies similarly shuttered a Queens karaoke bar by the name of CJ Diamond Cafe on College Point Boulevard. It was about 11:30 p.m. when that location was raided, and at the deputies’ arrival about 100 patrons ran out. The remaining patrons and five managers were slapped with summonses.
Back in August 31st, SOHO KTV & Bar on Farrington Street in Flushing, Queens, was also likewise shuttered for serving alcohol and food indoors to roughly 75 patrons.
