April 11, 2019
| Albany, NY
Albany, NY – The New York State Liquor Authority (SLA) summarily suspended the license of 138th Street Tavern Corp., doing business as “Oze Tavern” at 256 East 138th Street in the Bronx. The suspension was ordered by Chairman Vincent Bradley, Commissioner Lily Fan, and Commissioner Greeley Ford at a meeting of the Full Board on April 10, 2019. Effective immediately, no alcohol may be sold or consumed on the premises. During the suspension period the SLA intends to seek the permanent cancelation or revocation of the license.
On March 31, 2019, New York City Police (NYPD) officers responded to a call for shots fired outside of Oze Tavern, finding two persons stabbed and another patron shot and stabbed. All three victims were rushed to Lincoln Hospital, where one victim, a 29-year-old male, was pronounced dead on arrival. Video surveillance shows the deceased man surrounded by a gang of individuals who repeatedly stab the victim in the chest. Surveillance shows a second victim shot in the head and stabbed directly in front of the tavern.
The March 31st homicide is just the latest in a series of disorders emanating from the Oze Tavern. The SLA currently has revocation proceedings pending against the bar for charges including operating a disorderly premise relating to a January 29, 2019 stabbing, selling to minors, excessive noise, and for becoming a focal point for police attention. On April 9th, the SLA charged Oze Tavern with five additional violations of the ABC law.
“The SLA has zero tolerance for bars where violence is a routine occurrence, threatening the safety of their neighborhoods and straining police resources,” said SLA Chairman Vincent Bradley. “The SLA has an obligation to ensure this violence does not continue, and this emergency suspension should serve as a message that this agency will not hesitate to take immediate action when a bar poses a threat to public safety.”
The State Administrative Procedure Act authorizes a State agency to summarily suspend a license when the agency finds that public health, safety, or welfare requires emergency action. When the SLA summarily suspends a license, it also serves a Notice of Pleading alleging one or more disciplinary violations. In invoking a summary suspension, the SLA has deemed the violation to be sufficiently serious upon initial
review to warrant an immediate suspension. The SLA’s decision to summarily suspend a license is not a final determination on the merits of the case. The licensee is entitled to an expedited administrative law hearing before an Administrative Law Judge. An order of summary suspension remains in effect until such time as it is modified by the SLA or a reviewing Court.
On the Web: www.sla.ny.gov
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