The Page Closes For Good

Portsmouth officials announced Monday The Page is now permanently closed after the city's petition calling on the New Hampshire Liquor Commission to revoke its liquor license was approved.

Portsmouth Police Chief Stephen DuBois and City Manager John Bohenko issued a press release on Monday stating the closure was attributed to an agreement reached between The Page's parent corporation, New Adventure Entertainment, LLC, and the petition. The agreement and petition also rendered an upcoming Liquor Commission hearing on Thursday a moot point.

"Rather than be subject to that hearing, The Page has agreed with the City that effective June 21, 2013 at 11:59 PM the restaurant will go out of business permanently.  Moreover, City Attorney Robert P. Sullivan has indicated that no similar night club establishment may re-open at that location, regardless of ownership," reads the city's press release.

Sullivan said that if The Page had gone forward with the Liquor Commission hearing this week, the city would have presented a very compelling evidence to support its petition.

"That case would have involved the details of over 100 police-related incidents at The Page under its current ownership.  These incidents include alcohol abuse and violence which culminated in the death of patron Joshua Krantz who died after an April 5, 2013 assault which occurred in The Page," reads the city's press release.

The Page staff announced last week the establishment would permanently close its doors on Thursday night on its Facebook page.

Weichert Realtors of Portsmouth also just listed the Hanover Street building where The Page is located as being for sale for $3,625,000. Attempts to reach The Page's owners, Ted Mountzuris and John Dussi, for comment or Attorney Dan Hoefle, who is representing the restaurant, on Friday were unsuccessful.

New Adventure Entertainment, LLC, was indicted for serving alcohol in a restricted area on the night of April 5, which was the Stadium Lounge. The parent corporation was indicted for allowing alcohol to be consumed in the restricted area. The offenses took place on the same night that Jonathan Krantz, 24, of Dover was assaulted by Zachary O'Neill, 24, of Dover. The Rockingham County Attorney's office still intends to bring this case to trial.

If convicted, New Adventure Entertainment, LLC, could face a $100,000 fine and lose its liquor license, but Reams previously said there would be no jail time.

Krantz, 24, was found dead in his Dover apartment on Saturday, April 6, after Portsmouth Police say  while dancing in the Stadium Lounge on the night of April 5. 

An investigation by Portsmouth and Dover police revealed that the cause of death was a fractured skull, resulting in an acute epidural hematoma. The manner of death – homicide, natural causes, etc. – has been marked as pending investigation by the state medical examiner's office.

 at the Rockingham County Jail after he was charged with a felony of first degree assault. During the course of the Portsmouth Police investigation into Krantz's death, police found The Page staff was serving alcohol in the Stadium Lounge, which is a restricted area, according to New Hampshire Liquor Commission statutes.

The bar's liquor license was scheduled to expire on May 31. The Portsmouth City Council recently voted to petition the state agency to revoke the restaurant's liquor license after DuBois prepared a report that listed dozens of police calls related to The Page since the establishment opened in July 2007.