Two Syracuse bars are permanently closed after common councilors revoked their permits this week. Both bars have violated numerous city ordinances and have disrupted adjacent neighborhoods.
People living near Tommy’s Bar and Grill on Wolf Street spoke at a recent public hearing of late-night crowds, noise, and violence spilling into the streets.
“I live Just a few doors down from Tommy's, and for the past two years it's been hell living in the neighborhood," resident April Moore told councilors.
“I am a Hospice nurse and I work overnight, and one morning I went by Tommy's at 4:00 AM, and they were still serving. I did call 911,"Octavia Gernhard said. "I've gone by several times when there's been crowds of people out in the street disorderly and looking inebriated."
“Their clientele has been obnoxious. The loud noise and the parties caused me to lose business," said Peter Ginnis. He own the Wolf's Den bar next door. "My people have no place to park. And they're afraid to go down the sidewalks because you're covered with people.”
John Mayer with the Washington Square Task Force says the whole neighborhood suffers.
“That kind of behavior not only effects that immediate area of bars, but goes into the residential areas blocks away.”
No one at the public hearing spoke against revoking the permit.
TASTE OF BROOKLYN SPORTS BAR
Meanwhile, there was strong support for giving Taste of Brooklyn Bar in the Valley Plaza another chance. Two murders happened in the parking lot this summer, along with multiple disturbances and violations.
Owner Shawn Nelson told councilors he’s tried to work with the city.
“We deserve another chance to sit down with officials on how to conduct a better business," Nelson said. "We have over 30 employees that are out of work. We've never had an intention to promote violence. We've always been anti violence. We've done a lot of fundraisers, charity events. And we always look to our officials to help us figure out how to Maneuver better.”
Vera Howington says Nelson needs that second chance to support his family and provide jobs.
“What I feel is missing is support, support that this Black man needed to make his establishment successful," Howington said. "I feel like that the cards were stacked against him from day one. The powers that be are trying to peg him as a certain person that he's not.”
Commissioner of Neighborhood and Business Development, Michael Collins says this was Nelson’s second chance after ignoring sanctions placed on him for similar problems at another bar he owned and operated illegally on Park Street.
“We were willing to work with him and provide him opportunity," Collins said. "That that opportunity came with certain restrictions. Those restrictions were blatantly violated, repeatedly.”
Limits included closing at 10 p.m. Deputy Mayor Sharon Owens says that was ignored, and it led to violence and other disturbances.
“We didn't have fights and we didn't have shootings in that parking lot prior to opening that establishment," Owens said. "There are other nightclubs in the area that we don't get those calls to.”
Owens says the activity at Taste of Brooklyn generated numerous complaints from neighbors…neighbors that are likely breathing a sigh of relief that the bar can’t reopen.
