QUEENS — The State Liquor Authority renewed the liquor license for Rego Park club Rumba despite community opposition.
Community Board 6 discussed the club’s application in June and decided to vote against it, because of numerous complaints and violations against the venue.
But the SLA renewed the venue’s liquor license anyway, which is now valid until July 31, 2017.
“Our office is very upset about it,” said Frank Gulluscio, district manager at CB6, at a recent meeting.
According to the 112th Precinct, which covers Forest Hills and Rego Park, numerous complaints about the club have been submitted via 311, mostly for excessive noise and double parking conditions.
In the past week, there have been six such complaints about the club, located at 67-63 Woodhaven Blvd.
The 112 Precinct said it has issued a total of 10 criminal court summonses to the location this year.
Rumba has also scored a number of SLA violations, including for overcrowding, using an unapproved trade name, making alterations at the venue without SLA permission, excessive noise, employing unlicensed security guards and failing to comply with building codes and safety regulations, according to documents provided by the SLA.
“The SLA does have pending charges against this licensee issued in July of 2015,” William Crowley, a spokesman for the SLA, said in an email. “However, while the SLA places substantial weight on the recommendations received from Community Boards, we cannot force an establishment out of business based on pending charges and without due process of the law.”
The community board only serves in an advisory role.
“We are going to stay on top of them, watching the violations and if we have to bring them back to SLA, we will,” Gulluscio said about Rumba.
The club did not respond to multiple phone calls seeking comment.
