Empire bar hit with fines in NHP court

Richard Tedesco

Empire Billiards partner and manager Harbinder Singh came to New Hyde Park Village Court to answer two summonses last Wednesday night and left squarely behind the eight ball with $250 in fines and warning not to repeat the offenses.

Singh pleaded guilty to operating a billiard hall without a permit and violating the required height for window shades under the town code.

“My advice is you don’t find yourself before this court with these violations again,” said acting Village Judge Robert Morici.

A former billiard parlor now operating as a bar at 1215 Jericho Turnpike, Empire Billiards has been the source of repeated complaints from residents about excessive noise and illegal activities outside the bar including drug use and public lewdness. On May 9, two people were stabbed outside the bar.

Village of New Hyde Park trustees denied the business a permit to play billiards last year in response to the residents’ complaints. 

Village prosecutor John Turano told Morici he was going to recommend the village raise its fines on the bar.

“I’m going to recommend to the village that they raise these fines to $2,000,” he told Singh during a brief conference before Sing appeared before Morici.

During the hearing, Village of New Hyde Park building inspector Tom Gannon, testified that bar patrons were playing billiards.

In response, Morici asked, “What is the business permitted to do?”

Gannon said the bar can serve food and alcohol, and explained the village denied Empire’s application for a gaming permit last year that would have allowed billiards to be played.

Gannon also said Empire’s front window shades are supposed to be mounted 54 inches above sidewalk level – not 44 inches as he said they were – to prevent passers-by from being able to see inside.

Singh said the men playing pool when Gannon visited Empire recently were not “paying customers.”

“They were friends of mine just sitting around waiting for me. So they started playing,” Singh said.    

In response to a question from Morici, Singh said he doesn’t permit pool playing in the billiard hall. 

Police officers from the 3rd Precinct also recently cited the bar on June 15 for excessive noise. The bar is scheduled to appear before the state Liquor Authority on the charge. 

Singh downplayed the residents’ concerns.

“They’re overreacting to what it is,” Singh said outside court.

He said the noise offense the police cited the bar for was due to five customers who were congregating on the sidewalk outside the bar.

New Hyde Park Mayor Robert Lofaro, who has been seeking ways to curb disturbances outside the bar, declined to comment when he was told about Turano’s suggestion that fines be raised to $2,000.

“Our building department will issue the summons for non-compliance and then the village court will do what it decides to do. We’re just looking for some amicable compliance,” Lofaro said. “The board wants to make sure businesses comply with the codes of the village.”

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