Topless Lap Dances Land Midtown Seafood Joint In Hot Water: Suit

MIDTOWN MANHATTAN, NY — A Midtown seafood restaurant is facing eviction over a slew of alleged violations ranging from non-payment of rent to drug trafficking and a "topless lap dance party," according to its landlord.

Court papers were filed last week by Cohen Brothers Realty Corp., owners of 3 East 54th St. — a 19-story office tower between Fifth and Madison avenues — against their ground-floor tenant, Skorpios NYC Event Venue & Lounge.

The suit asks a judge to evict Skorpios from the $45,000-per-month storefront, which it has occupied since signing a lease in 2019. According the landlords, the "first-class, table-cloth Mediterranean style seafood restaurant" has in fact failed to pay any rent since December 2020, amassing debts that now total more than $113,000.

Meanwhile, the suit also centers on a Jan. 13 incident in which police and federal drug agents conducted a raid at Skorpios, aiming to curb illegal drug use as well as an "adult-themed topless lap dance party," according to the landlords.

Inside, law enforcement discovered about a dozen "scantily clad topless strippers in lap dance areas and private rooms" — though the restaurant lacks an adult entertainment license — as well as "substantial quantities of drugs, including cocaine" that indicated "large-scale drug trafficking," the suit alleges.

Those latter allegations could not immediately be confirmed. New York City Sheriff Joseph Fucito said in an email to Patch that sheriff's deputies did visit the restaurant that night, arresting its manager and issuing tickets for offenses including the use of fireworks and refusing to allow an inspection — but made no mention of drug use or dancing.

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Between the allegations of illegal activity and the lack of rent payments, the landlords say Skorpios has now ventured well outside the terms of its lease, and are asking a judge to eject the business from the property.

Skorpios, which remains open, did not immediately respond to a phone call requesting comment on Tuesday. An emailed message also received no response.