East Harlem Bar Sapitos Shut Down By State, Officials Say

EAST HARLEM, NY — The New York State Liquor Authority is shutting down an East Harlem bar that has been the scene of several violent altercations in recent months.

The liquor authority voted Wednesday to suspended the license of Sapitos, meaning the establishment will no longer be permitted from serving any alcohol. The bar, located on East 106th street between Third and Lexington avenues, was hit with 11 violations including charges for disorderly premises, failure to exercise adequate supervision and for becoming a focal point of police attention, state officials announced.

A number of fights broke out at Sapitos in the months before its liquor license was suspended, state officials said. The most recent fight occurred on March 31 between a group of bar patrons, officials said. The fight ended up spilling out into the street and one person pulled a gun during the altercation, officials said. Another person was slashed in the face while sitting in their car outside the bar on the same night, officials said.

Violent incidents also occurred at or near Sapitos on March 25, March 4, Feb. 13, Feb. 9 and Jan. 12, state officials said. During the Feb. 14 fight, one person was stabbed in the abdomen and another person was hit over the head with a bar stool, officials said. Both people were hospitalized with serious injuries, officials said.

Nobody working at the bar called police during several of the fights, state officials said.

Patrolling Sapitos has become a drain on the local police precinct's resources, state officials said. The NYPD has dedicated 77 directed patrols to the bar this year and dedicated 146 directed patrols last year, officials said. Sixteen complaints with 311 have been made about the bar this year and 94 were made last year, officials said. The majority of the 311 calls were complaints of loud music and noise, officials said.

"Sapitos has become a dangerous bar where patrons, employees and members of the community are constantly put in danger due to the licensee’s inability to control his establishment," Counsel to the State Liquor Authority Christopher R. Riano said in a statement. "The Authority has made it clear today that this Agency will not hesitate to shut down any bar that condones violence and jeopardizes public safety."

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