WASHINGTON HEIGHTS — A restaurant that lost its liquor license in the spring due to complaints of crime and quality-of-life disturbances stemming from the establishment appears no closer to winning community support for a renewed wine license.
Community Board 12 voted Tuesday to recommend denying La Caridad #2 owner Altagracia Marrero’s application seeking to start serving liquor again at the restaurant. Although the application is technically for a renewal of the former license, alcohol has been banned from the restaurant since May 10 when the license was revoked.
Marrero told members of CB 12’s economic development committee in early October that her establishment, located at 2092 Amsterdam Ave. between 168th and 169th streets, had taken a turn for the worse when she was unable to manage the restaurant due to an injury she sustained earlier this year.
“I am a woman of respect, and in good faith I won’t let this happen again,” she told the board committee in Spanish.
Police from the 33rd Precinct also recommended denying the license, citing 83 criminal court summonses issued to patrons inside the establishment this year. Police said they observed alcohol being sold after hours during eight investigations, including one held in collaboration with the State Liquor Authority.
Police also said they had grown concerned about violence at the Dominican food establishment after a bartender was threatened with a knife in February this year.
In April, CB 12 voted against the restaurant’s renewal request, with its liquor license set to expire on April 30. At the time, police warned they had received complaints about "menacing large groups of people with weapons," fights, assaults and alcohol sold to large groups of patrons (20 to 30 at a time) who were "already drunk," according to 33rd Precinct Captain Brian Mullen.
Although no residents spoke out against the restaurant on Tuesday, neighbors have previously complained that the establishment became a nuisance with loud noise at night stemming from patrons.
"Good food during the day, but too noisy at night," said area resident Emile Herrera, 42, back in April, adding his children are regularly awaked by street fights outside the restaurant and patrons as they leave at 4 a.m. when La Caridad #2 closes.
The community board serves an advisory role, but the State Liquor Authority has the final say on liquor license approvals.
