By:Angela Marshall
Citing "a continued pattern of serving underage customers," the Village of Rockville Centre last week notified the owner of E.J. Rockwell's that it plans to suspend the bar's food and drink license for 90 days.
A letter announcing the village's intention was delivered June 19 to Louis Matarazzo, owner of the North Village Avenue business, and resulted from a police-department review of five years' activity at the bar. According to the village, the police summary showed that there have been 164 reported incidents at Rockwell's since 1996, resulting in 38 reported injuries, 19 arrests and 18 referrals to the State Liquor Authority.
Village officials said they took action because the State Liquor Authority has not.
The suspension is to begin on or about July 4, but Matarazzo said he planned to request a hearing, which could push off a suspension, should there still be one, a month or more.
Also, it has been confirmed by someone in village government that police have attempted to find out first hand if drinking by underage patrons is going on at Rockwell's, but that at least one village employee has tipped off the bar's management before police have arrived.
Matarazzo would not answer questions about whether underage customers are served at the bar. "I'm not going to comment on anything specific," he said, emphasizing that he did not want to be tried in the media. "We are requesting a hearing. I believe all the facts will come out then."
However, a former bouncer and three young adults considered reliable sources by the Herald said Rockwell's has earned its reputation as a "kiddie bar."
"They're blatant about it," said Ryan, a 19-year-old who asked that his full name not be used. "I'm surprised it's taken the village this long to act."
The former bouncer, who asked that his name not be published, said he was never told to let in patrons under 21 but wasn't discouraged from doing so, either. He said that during the two months he worked at the bar, bouncers let in many patrons who showed fake identification. "The bouncers knew well that they were fake," he said.
Ryan said his friends have purchased cheap IDs in the city or made them on computer. He also said he has told bouncers that he left his ID at home and has been allowed into the bar.
Village officials said they were prompted to take action because they have not seen any changes despite the police department repeatedly notifying the State Liquor Authority of violations of Alcoholic Beverage Control laws. According to the village, the police made three such referrals each year from 1997 to 2000 and have already made five referrals this year.
"The Village of Rockville Centre has serious and grave concerns about the operation of the establishment and, as such, is taking this extraordinary step," Village Administrator Anthony Cancellieri said.
Mayor Eugene Murray said members of village government have been receiving complaints about Rockwell's for many months. "It's well-known that the teenagers are welcome there," the mayor said. He said some of his own grandchildren have admitted to going to the bar. And he was quick to say that the family made sure to educate the children about not going back before they are 21.
A spokesperson for the liquor authority said it has four charges pending against Rockwell's: March 17, 2000 sale to a minor; October 2000 sale to a minor; Jan. 7, 2001 assault, and Jan. 7, 2001 noise complaint.
The first two charges were scheduled for a May 17 hearing before an administrative law judge but were adjourned to July 12. The other charges might be heard on the same day, according to Thomas McKeon of the SLA.
McKeon said Rockville Centre police provided additional reports to the SLA at the May hearing and they are being looked at. Following the July hearing, the judge will write a report, which will be given to the SLA commissioners to decide if a penalty is warranted.
McKeon said Rockwell's current license was issued under the name Let Corp. in September 1999 and expires Aug. 1.
Although the village administrator would not answer questions about anyone tipping off the bar's management about police planning to go there to find underage drinkers, a government source said there is an ongoing investigation to ferret out any tipsters and one had been identified. That person, who was being investigated for other reasons, resigned from the village's employ before it could take action against him.
The former bouncer who spoke to the Herald said he and the other bouncers were given notice by management "to tighten up" on certain days. "We were [made] known that there would be a raid throughout the evening," he said.
In addition to underage drinking, village officials are concerned about the increasing violence associated with the bar's patrons and employees. There have been 10 arrests linked to the bar so far this year, mostly for assault.
In May, a man employed as a bouncer was arrested for an alleged assault on a customer. On June 1, four customers, one underage, reported being assaulted after leaving the bar. One altercation ended up on the tracks of the nearby Long Island Rail Road platform, and three police officers were injured. On June 3, police responded to another disturbance at the bar and another bouncer was arrested.
The former bouncer with whom the Herald spoke said it was common for patrons to bet on fights between bouncers and customers.
The bar has also been cited repeatedly for permitting "dangerous overcrowding," according to the village.
Rockwell's hearing will be held within 30 days of its request. A hearing officer designated by the Village Board of Trustees will oversee the hearing and make a written report and a recommendation to the board, which has the power to revoke or suspend a license.
A suspension of its village food and drink license would mean E.J. Rockwell's could not open for business.
Matarazzo's lawyer, Joseph M. Librie of Hempstead, said they planned to exhaust the appeal process, if necessary.
