INWOOD — Rowdy brawls helped to get Vin-Tich Lounge's liquor license yanked. Now, the Inwood nightclub is fighting with the state to get it back.
William Segura, Vin-Tich's owner, is suing the State Liquor Authority, challenging its decision to pull the club's license early last month.
The SLA revoked the hot spot's booze permit on Jan. 3 after Segura failed to show up to a hearing about charges of disorderly premises, noise complaints and underage drinking.
In documents filed with Manhattan Supreme Court, Segura argues that he didn't receive the SLA's notice of charges until after the hearing. The nightclub's mailbox is inaccessible during the daytime, Segura said, so mail is left with the computer store next door, and the store's owner was away on vacation.
"If I had received notice of the charges I would have entered a plea of not guilty," Segura stated in legal papers.
Vin-Tich, at 3950 10th Ave., is no stranger to trouble. In March 2011, it was rapped by the SLA for selling alcohol 30 minutes after 4 a.m. closing time. In November 2011, two cops were injured and one lost a tooth when bottles were thrown at them at the club, police said. In April 2012, a patron required stitches after being beaten with a flashlight by a bouncer, cops said.
Segura argued that he'd hired 11 bouncers the night of the flashlight incident to quell disorderly conduct.
Vin-Tich has been closed since losing its liquor license, police said. Segura, who also owns Tobaco y Ron Cafe on 214th Street, is seeking a temporary restraining order to have the license suspension overturned — and another shot to defend himself before the SLA.
He said he'll be forced to close for good if the decision isn't reversed.
"If I do not have a liquor license I will be forced to go out of business and will have lost my livelihood to support my family without having an opportunity to defend myself," Segura wrote.
