State Liquor Authority Suspends Delilah’s License
The State Liquor Authority (SLA) has suspended the license of Delilah, a nightlife spot at 155 Rivington St.
The Daily News first reported the story a short time ago. SLA legal counsel Christopher Raino said, “It’s clear that this licensee has put the profits of his business over the safety of his patrons, and that the continued operation of this establishment presents a severe threat to welfare of the community.”
Emergency Suspension ordered against Delilah Bar in NYC today. Numerous assaults and sales to intoxicated patrons lead to license suspension.
— NYS Liquor Authority (@NY_SLA) January 10, 2018
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The SLA cited “numerous assaults and sales to intoxicated patrons.” Here’s more from the Daily News:
One of the establishment’s owners is Paul Seres, a former president of the New York Nightlife Association and a founding trustee of the New York City Hospitality Alliance. The politically connected Seres also reportedly applied for the position of “night mayor” when Mayor de Blasio last year created the city Office of Nightlife. He did not get the position. De Blasio spokesman Ben Sarle wouldn’t confirm if Seres had been under consideration. “People who apply for jobs with NYC government is not public information,” Sarle said in an email.
UPDATE 1/11 Here are more details from the SLA’s press release:
On December 30, 2017, three patrons were stabbed outside Delilah Bar. According to referrals from the New York City Police Department (NYPD), two groups of patrons were involved in a verbal dispute inside the establishment. Security failed to break up the fight or keep the groups separated, which allowed the altercation to continue outside the premises and into the street, where three patrons were stabbed multiple times. One victim suffered a slash on the throat that required 250 stitches, and another patron involved in the altercation was run over by a car. The bar’s staff failed to call 911 to report the altercation or seek medical attention for the victims.
On December 31, 2017, a bouncer working at the establishment assaulted a patron. The bouncer filed a police report with the NYPD stating that he struck the patron in selfdefense. Police discovered the bouncer was not registered to a security company and has not completed an annual security training since 2006, both of which are required by law. An NYPD officer on patrol that evening stopped at the establishment to investigate the dispute observed a number of highly intoxicated patrons including several who were unable to walk or stand inside the bar.
On January 1, 2018, the NYPD responded to a call at Delilah discovering multiple unconscious patrons lying in front of the establishment door. The manager on duty disclosed to the officers that the bar was having an open bar, a violation of the ABC Law’s prohibition on unlimited drink specials. Police also counted 138 patrons inside the establishment, more than twice the maximum occupancy of 74 patrons.
Additionally, two patrons inside the establishment on January 1st observed an unconscious woman being carried by two individuals into a back room. The patrons identified themselves as physicians and told the staff that the woman required medical attention and requested that the staff call an ambulance. The patrons then asked for a manager and offered to help the woman, but the manager informed the patrons that unconscious patrons were a common occurrence and that staff would pour water into the unconscious patron’s mouth. The patrons also observed an intoxicated woman in the front of the bar vomiting profusely and then slipping in her own vomit. Again, the staff failed to call 911 or request an ambulance for either patron.
Following the two assaults and several incidents of overserving at the establishment, SLA investigators conducted a joint compliance inspection with the NYPD on January 3, 2018. During the inspection, the manager was unable to produce employment files, security guard records, security contracts or receipts for beer and liquor purchases. The inspection also revealed 46 violations of the ABC Law and the New York State Fire Code.
On January 9th, the SLA charged Delilah Bar with 18 violations of the ABC Law, including disorderly premises, sale to an intoxicated person, for failure to supervise and for becoming a focal point for police attention.
“Not only did the licensee and his staff put patrons in danger by failing to call 911 during emergency situations, he also refused to seek medical treatment for unconscious victims that were overserved at his establishment,” said Counsel to the Authority Christopher R. Riano. “It’s clear that this licensee has put the well-being of his business over the safety of his patrons, and that the continued operation of this establishment presents a severe threat to the community.”
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