Fells Point hookah bar gets late night license despite violations
Diamond Hookah Lounge is granted late hours by the Zoning Board – after police call it one of city’s “top five trouble spots”
Above: Supporters of Diamond Hookah Lounge’s request to stay open late line up at the Zoning Board.
The city Zoning Board heard two very different descriptions of the Diamond Hookah Lounge as the owners of the Fells Point business came in asking for permission to stay open until 5 a.m.
“A nice place to sober up a little,” said attorney Abraham Hurdle, representing the owners at a City Hall hearing on Wednesday. “People smoke to enjoy, relax, watch games, sports,” added his client, Daniel Tesaye.
But a much less benign view came from neighbors, business owners and police officers, including a member of the vice squad who said his unit regards the establishment, located at 515 South Broadway, as one of the city’s “top five trouble spots.”
“Each time I have done a sting there, a business check, there have been people selling alcohol or bringing it in,” said Detective Abraham Gatto. (These were violations because the establishment does not have a liquor license.)
Gatto described responding to multiple calls to that address and having to deal with assaults and brawls, finding bottles of vodka in the club and witnessing “the selling of alcohol, patrons bringing it in, putting it plastic bottles to try to disguise it.”
One board member said the bar, which lacks a liquor license, was trying “to circumvent the law by selling alcohol in plastic bottles.” Its supporters (above) said the business enhances Fells Point. (Photo by Fern Shen)
Another city police officer, Larry Fasano, came in with a sheaf of police reports and said there had been 23 incidents called to that address in the last year. They included disorderly conduct, narcotics, aggravated assault and cutting.
Despite lengthy testimony against the club, the five-member Board of Municipal Zoning and Appeals (BMZA) voted unanimously to grant Diamond Hookah’s owners a late night operator’s license, but with these restrictions:
• They can be open Thursday through Saturday nights until 2 a.m. (not the requested 5 a.m.).
• They are prohibited from selling alcohol or offering catered events.
• The noise level 10 feet from the establishment must be no higher than 55 decibels.
• Crowds cannot exceed the building’s capacity of 65.
• They cannot obtain a liquor license.
Community Wanted a Denial
Community leaders called it a victory, though they had requested the board to deny the club’s license altogether. Asked by BMZA Chairman Geoffrey Washington if a license with restrictions would suffice, Joanne Masopust, president of the Fells Point Community Organization, said “no.”
“I don’t think restrictions on their license is going to make any difference in terms of compliance,” Masopust said.
She brought copies of printouts of online advertisements for events featuring alcohol and DJ’s at the club. (The business lacks permission for live entertainment as well as having no liquor license.)
Asked by Washington about a Diamond Hookah flier that advertised free alcohol, Tesaye said he never had free liquor, but added, “I have promoters. They advertise like that to get people to come.”
Hurdle stepped in to say that these were mistakes. “My client was unfamiliar with the rules and regulations. In the future there will not be BYOB.”
Masopust said she didn’t think much of the excuse of “I don’t know.”
“As a business owner, it’s your job to know,” she said.
Joanne Masopust with a poster advertising a DJed event at the Diamond Hookah Lounge. (Photo by Fern Shen)
Mondell Powell, of 1705 Eastern Avenue, addressed the noise issue, saying sound from the club “reverberates in our building.” Pedro Silva, who owns nearby Carolina Tex Mex, spoke about safety concerns, saying patrons “get out of control when the club closes.”
“It’s a very uncontrolled crowd, there are very loud fights. . . It’s very dangerous, it’s scary,” said Silva, who said patrons are outside when he exits his restaurant after closing for the night.
“It’ll Bring Nice People”
A group of supporters also showed up at the hearing, with one of them, Charla Faddoul speaking for all of them.
“I don’t believe it hurts my location,” said Faddoul, who owns several properties in the 500 block of South Broadway.
“I think these gentlemen are trying to establish something nice for the community. They are doing a legal business and they want to add to this growing environment of Fells Point,” she said. “It’ll bring nice people.”
Asked if he charges admission to the club, Tessaye said people who come into the year-old club and want to smoke the hookah pay a fee of $15.
The Board’s Reasoning
When it came time for deliberations, board member Michael Barb asked, “Do you see any grounds for denying the application outright?”
“No, not outright,” said chairman Washington.
Board member Jai Bonner said the owners “had gone to great lengths to circumvent everything that was already in place.”
She said she was leaning toward denying the lounge the late-night license outright, but added, “I can be persuaded to give them a try.”
Frank Bonaventure, another member, observed that the board could always come back and restrict or revoke the license if the lounge doesn’t follow the rules.
In the end, the board unanimously granted the late night operator’s license. While the club owners seemed to like the outcome, the police did not.
“This location is eating up time, it almost has to be baby sat,” said Detective Abraham Gatto, noting that officers from the Southeast District are called away from other areas to deal with the fights, assaults and alcohol violations that occur there.