State officials have taken drastic action against an East Harlem club that was operating as a full-fledged adult entertainment venue despite city regulations and zoning restrictions in place for residential areas.
After a thorough investigation by Gothamist, which included undercover reporting and state agency reviews, the State Liquor Authority has revoked the liquor license of Bodega Paradise, effectively shutting down the business. The move comes after months of complaints from local residents who expressed concerns about the club's activities, including its alleged promotion of adult entertainment.
The club, owned by Alex Meskouris, had opened just a few months ago with promises to operate as a breakfast spot and sports bar. However, reports from the Gothamist investigation revealed that behind the scenes, women were dancing in fishnets and thongs for customers who would pay cash, while bartenders allegedly exposed themselves for money. The State Liquor Authority Commissioner Edgar De Leon detailed numerous other serious violations found during state inspections, including issues with safety, sanitation, and compliance with licensing regulations.
The decision marks a significant victory for local residents and community groups who had been fighting against the club's operations, citing concerns about public safety and quality of life in the area. Kioka Jackson, president of the NYPD's 25th Precinct Community Council, expressed disappointment that city officials had not listened to their concerns sooner.
The revocation also highlights ongoing issues with oversight and enforcement by the Adams administration, which has faced criticism for its handling of nightlife venues in recent months. Multiple shootings and allegations of police corruption have marred the city's nightlife scene, prompting calls for greater accountability.
Meskouris' attorney Gen Harris acknowledged that mistakes were made but offered little explanation for the club's numerous violations. Meanwhile, Robert Romano, a longtime liquor lawyer, noted that the permit revocation effectively leaves the business open to enforcement by law enforcement agencies.
The Adams administration has issued statements vowing to protect public safety and ensure compliance with regulations, while also acknowledging that some oversight lapses occurred. The city had previously failed to inspect the full club during its operation, which allowed the State Liquor Authority to step in and take action.
After a thorough investigation by Gothamist, which included undercover reporting and state agency reviews, the State Liquor Authority has revoked the liquor license of Bodega Paradise, effectively shutting down the business. The move comes after months of complaints from local residents who expressed concerns about the club's activities, including its alleged promotion of adult entertainment.
The club, owned by Alex Meskouris, had opened just a few months ago with promises to operate as a breakfast spot and sports bar. However, reports from the Gothamist investigation revealed that behind the scenes, women were dancing in fishnets and thongs for customers who would pay cash, while bartenders allegedly exposed themselves for money. The State Liquor Authority Commissioner Edgar De Leon detailed numerous other serious violations found during state inspections, including issues with safety, sanitation, and compliance with licensing regulations.
The decision marks a significant victory for local residents and community groups who had been fighting against the club's operations, citing concerns about public safety and quality of life in the area. Kioka Jackson, president of the NYPD's 25th Precinct Community Council, expressed disappointment that city officials had not listened to their concerns sooner.
The revocation also highlights ongoing issues with oversight and enforcement by the Adams administration, which has faced criticism for its handling of nightlife venues in recent months. Multiple shootings and allegations of police corruption have marred the city's nightlife scene, prompting calls for greater accountability.
Meskouris' attorney Gen Harris acknowledged that mistakes were made but offered little explanation for the club's numerous violations. Meanwhile, Robert Romano, a longtime liquor lawyer, noted that the permit revocation effectively leaves the business open to enforcement by law enforcement agencies.
The Adams administration has issued statements vowing to protect public safety and ensure compliance with regulations, while also acknowledging that some oversight lapses occurred. The city had previously failed to inspect the full club during its operation, which allowed the State Liquor Authority to step in and take action.
thinkin about how one spot can wreak havoc on a community's quality of life. i mean, bodega paradise had no business operating as a full-fledged adult entertainment venue, especially not in residential areas. it's like, you gotta draw the line somewhere, right? 
and it's even more frustrating that city officials didn't listen to local concerns sooner. that community council rep Kioka Jackson is all like "we told you so" 
. but at the end of the day, the fact remains that there are gonna be more places popping up like bodega paradise if we don't step up our oversight game 
.
! It's about time those state officials took drastic action against a business that was clearly violating all sorts of regulations. I mean, who wants their local community affected by shady stuff like that? 
The fact that they had to resort to undercover reporting and agency reviews just shows how out of touch the club owners were 
.
. We need more stuff like this Bodega Paradise case to show that we won't tolerate shoddy businesses ruining our communities.
. Kioka Jackson and the NYPD's 25th Precinct Community Council have been vocal about these issues, and it's awesome to see them getting some recognition 
. Maybe this will prompt some real change in the Adams administration...a girl can dream 
. But at the same time... what even is Bodega Paradise supposed to be? A breakfast spot that just happens to have strippers dancing in fishnets? 
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. The fact that they didn't even bother to do a proper inspection is just crazy 
. It's gonna take some real changes from the top if we're gonna see some actual accountability in this city 
.
. I mean, who needs that kind of sketchiness in our neighborhoods? 
And yeah, it's about time someone took action against this place 
#TakeDownTheBadGuys.
. All these shootings & police corruption allegations are a major red flag 
. We need more accountability, stat! 
#AccountabilityMatters.
at the end of the day, safety and quality of life matter, right? 
. And what about due process? The guy got slammed with a revocation and didn't get to defend himself properly? That's not right 
. i'm so glad the community groups and local residents spoke out and fought for change. we shouldn't have to worry about our kids being exposed to that kind of stuff on their way home from school 
. kudos to the state liquor authority for stepping in and putting an end to this nonsense 
I'm shocked they got away with it for so long! Like, how many complaints did the community have to deal with before the authorities took action? 
The fact that they got away with exposing themselves for cash is just sickening. 
. i mean, if they can't even be bothered to properly inspect a club before it opens, then who's gonna hold them accountable? not impressed with their response so far... 
this is just another example of how the platform we're using can't even be trusted to report on real issues... i mean, it's like they're more interested in sensationalizing the "scandal" than actually digging deep into the facts 
. meanwhile, the real concern here should be about the lack of accountability from city officials and law enforcement agencies 
Can't believe this is happening! Like, I get it, Bodega Paradise was operating outside the rules, but revoking their license feels like a total overreaction... especially considering how much noise & chaos those clubs usually bring 
.
. I mean, what's up with city officials not listening to local residents when they have concerns? It's always the same story - loud parties, noise complaints, and now this... it's like they're just trying to make a buck off of nightlife spots 
.
. We need better oversight and enforcement, especially when it comes to nightlife spots 
. Anything less is just unacceptable 
and the fact that meskouris' lawyer didn't even acknowledge any wrongdoing is just weird 
the city needs to get its act together and make sure these places are enforced properly 
. like, isn't it obvious that running a legitimate business requires more than just a fancy marketing plan? 
. on the bright side, now we can all rest easy knowing that our local nightlife isn't being run by...you know 
.