Troubled East Main Street ‘deli,’ scene of several violent incidents, surrenders its liquor license to state regulators

The owners of the Royal Dorado on East Main Street, the site of several violent incidents in the past couple of year, has surrendered its liquor license, Riverhead Town Police announced in a press release this afternoon.

The establishment, permitted by the town as a restaurant/luncheonette, has been operating as a bar where late night- early morning altercations have resulted in injuries requiring transport to the local emergency room.

Last month, there were two violent assaults at the bar in one week, according to police reports.

Following those assaults, investigators from the New York State Liquor Authority and Riverhead Town Police officers conducted a compliance inspection at the premises, where the SLA found two unlicensed bouncers and Riverhead Police cited the establishment for code violations.

On March 1, 2016, the SLA imposed a $8,500 fine for seven violations, including for a July 25, 2015 assault during a brawl occurring at the premises parking lot and a stabbing and assault on August 1, 2015. In imposing the fine, the SLA put the owner on notice that subsequent violations would lead to the revocation of the license.

“It is my understanding that the Royal Dorado was told to surrender their license or face termination,” Riverhead Town Supervisor Sean Walter said in an interview this afternoon.

The owner, D.A.P. Inc. surrendered the SLA license today, following charges brought by the SLA, police said.

“I’d like to thank the SLA for working with the Town of Riverhead to nip this in the bud,” Walter said, “and to rectify what seemed to be becoming a bigger problem.”

A year ago, Riverhead Town officials shut down the establishment, which they said was operating as a bar without proper town permits, after three violent assaults at or outside the premises between May and August 2015.

The East Main Street establishment had a certificate of occupancy for a deli, but had constructed a bar and additional seating inside without the necessary permits, according to papers served by the town last August on Royal Dorado’s owner. Deli cases that were on site during a permit inspection had been removed since the town issued a certificate of occupancy in February 2011.

The county health department also issued Royal Dorado a permit for a 16-seat carry-out deli, but the addition of the bar, together with additional tables, created 27 more seats beyond what the health department permit allows — seven at the bar and another 20 at additional tables, Supervisor Sean Walter said last year.

The owner had corrected those violations and was allowed to reopen. But violent incidents began occurring there again this year.