Auburndale Bar Can't Serve Alcohol After Shooting, Complaints

BAYSIDE, QUEENS — It might be the last call for a long-maligned bar in Auburndale.

On Thursday, Nov. 18th, the State Liquor Authority, or SLA, temporarily suspended the liquor license at Kloud Tequila Grill and Hookah Lounge, meaning that alcohol can't be sold or consumed at the bar located at 192-08 Northern Boulevard.

According to the SLA, the suspension was prompted by ongoing neighborhood complaints and a recent double shooting at the bar; on Nov. 13th someone opened fire in front of the bar after they weren't allowed inside during a private party, injuring two people including the bar's owner.

“The SLA has zero tolerance for bars where violence and disorder is a routine occurrence, threatening the safety of their neighborhoods and straining police resources,” said SLA Chairman Vincent Bradley.

Last month a group of neighbors rallied in front of the bar, demanding that the city shut it down over their complaints that it is loud, dirty, and promotes after-hours partying and drinking.

Patch found that neighbors have leveled over 100 complaints about the bar to 311, the city's non-emergency service line, since it opened in May.

"Every day, we find garbage, vomit, empty liquor bottles scattered around the block," local business owner Dosung Andrew Jung told QNS last month.

These quality of life issues were the subject of a news conference over the weekend, where two local politicians and a group of civic leaders gathered in front of Kloud Tequila Grill and called on the SLA to permanently revoke the bar's liquor license.

Assemblyman Edward Braunstein called the SLA's temporary suspension a "good first start" but said that "more needs to be done" to resolve locals' concerns. "I continue to urge the SLA to do the right thing by the Auburndale community and permanently revoke Kloud’s license. Enough is enough.”

Senator John Liu echoed a similar sentiment, adding that while the recent gun violence at the bar was the "last straw for the state, our community knew Kloud was dangerous from the beginning. Any business that operates with such blatant disregard for their neighbors should take warning that our community won’t stand for it."

While the bar's liquor license is suspended — which will be until the SLA or a court changes the order — the SLA said that it "intends to seek the permanent cancellation or revocation of the license."

Patch wasn't able to reach Kloud Tequila Grill for this piece, but owner Sal Khan told CBSNY that he plans to turn his business into a different kind of establishment.

“Most likely it’s gonna be a restaurant without a liquor license, without liquor,” Khan said. “Maybe like a burger-type joint or fast food.”

Neighbors and local leaders, however, said that they don't trust the owner's promises, and want to see the bar shut down for good.

Auburndale Northern Association Member Alexandra Han, who was at Saturday's news conference, said in a statement that she wants the SLA to fully revoke the bar's liquor license in order to ensure the "quality of life of our community."

"While we are grateful for this temporary suspension, there were plenty of warning signs before the gun violence of last week," she said.