Business

CB 10 votes thumbs down on liquor license for controversial club

May 1, 2014 Helen Klein

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Hoping that very soon it will be able to mark the day the music died at Crown KTV, Community Board 10 has voted to recommend that the State Liquor Authority (SLA) not issue a new liquor license to the problematic karaoke clubs prospective owners.

The unanimous vote, at the boards April meeting, followed by just five days a Police & Public Safety Committee meeting on April 23 triggered by a required notification to the board that a new entity, Empire KTV 88 Inc., would be seeking a liquor license as it moves to take over the club from its current owners.

At the time, a representative for the club at 848 64^th Street across from the P.S. 69 schoolyard — had promised to pull the application for the new liquor license until paperwork could be submitted that accurately reflected the plan for the club, which has been a thorn in the side of residents and P.S. 69 since opening in 2009.

However, since the board did not receive anything in writing confirming this, it voted to oppose the liquor license application.

The current application states only that Crown KTV will be a karaoke club while ABC License representative Sam Park told committee members that the new owners will also operate a family restaurant there, something that did not go down well with board members, worried about bait and switch.

I feel theres not a high order of truth that comes from anybody associated with Crown KTV, noted Mary Nolan. Its a new face. Its another story, and they must think by now that we are deaf, dumb and stupid to keep on listening to their story. This place has to go.

Indeed, the day before the committee meeting, cops made two arrests at Crown KTV for possession of a controlled substance the most recent in the clubs checkered history that has board members also worrying about new owners with minimal experience taking over.

According to CB 10 District Manager Josephine Beckmann, there have been eight arrests so far in 2014 at the club, which racked up 50 9-1-1 calls and eight arrests, including two on felony charges, in 2013.

There are seven new violations that have yet to be dealt with, according to SLA Spokesperson William Crowley, not including any stemming from the arrests made on April 22.

Going further back, on August 7, 2011, five people were stabbed in front of the club, and on September 11, 2010, a fight at the club resulted in the bouncer breaking a leg. There also have been drug issues recorded in both 2010 and 2011, as well as underage drinking.

The board previously asked the SLA to revoke Crown KTVs liquor license; a hearing held after the first request resulted in a $30,000 civil penalty to the club, which was paid. Most recently, the board in January had unwillingly approved the renewal of the liquor license requested by the clubs current owners, adding a laundry list of stipulations in hopes of controlling somewhat what goes on there.

With all the drug busts, why are the doors even open? asked board member Sandy Vallas.

The prospective owners are no more pleased, said Park, telling this paper that there is no contract yet and that the prospective owners, who were unaware of all the violations, are now holding everything until everything is going smoothly.

CB 10s vote is advisory only.

Additional reporting contributed by Meaghan McGoldrick