Jan. 25, 2021 By Christina Santucci
An illegal club operating in the basement of a Woodside apartment building was shut down by law enforcement early Sunday.
Authorities said they found more than 75 people in the cramped space in violation of pandemic restrictions. Photos released by law enforcement show people packed around a makeshift bar decorated with hanging blue lights and chains, and small tables used for patrons’ drinks and hookahs.
The NYC Sheriff teamed up with the NYPD to raid the club, in the cellar of a six-story building at 65-25 Roosevelt Ave, just after midnight Sunday morning.
The lounge had no liquor license, and authorities found health code violations, dangerous levels of carbon dioxide and blocked exits as well as more than 75 partiers, according to the NYC Sheriff.
A state order declared by Gov. Andrew Cuomo in November restricts private gatherings to 10 people to help stop the spread of COVID-19. Authorities shut down the club and issued summonses during the raid, the 108th Precinct tweeted.
A spokesperson for the FDNY said that firefighters also responded to the address at about 12:45 a.m., investigated a gas odor from the building’s meter room and later handed the issue over to utility companies.
Woodside residents had complained that a business was operating illegally at the building. One person had notified the Department of Buildings back in September that the address was being used as a bar and nightclub on weekends starting at 11 p.m.
The owner of the nightclub, according to reports, tried to fight off the deputies conducting the raid. He was issued with desk appearance tickets for resisting arrest along with a slew of other charges.