Tiki Bar’s liquor license is revoked

The Tiki Bar, a popular bar and restaurant in the West End, had its liquor license revoked by the New York State Liquor Authority earlier this month for serving alcohol to minors, in what an agency official said was the “last straw” after the business racked up numerous violations over the years for serving underage customers.

On Oct. 8, the state notified the owner of the bar, at 832 W. Beech St., that it was immediately revoking its liquor license after the owner failed to pay a $10,000 civil penalty for serving liquor to a person or persons younger than 21 on June 4, 2009. The revocation means not only that the bar can no longer serve liquor, but also that it cannot hold or apply for another liquor license for two years.

The bar — popular for its Taco Tuesday, its “Bingorama” nights with female impersonator Kenny Dash and its burger and chili cookoffs — had been issued numerous citations for serving minors and other violations for years, said State Liquor Authority spokesman Michael Smith. Had the bar paid the $10,000 fine, Smith said, it could have continued to operate, but based on a pattern of violations, it was only a matter of time before the bar lost its liquor license.

“This is kind of like the last straw for these guys,” Smith said. “They were not heading in the

right course.”

According to documents obtained from the liquor authority, the Tiki Bar’s violations for serving minors date back to 2002. A citation was also issued for an altercation and assault that occurred there in 2006.

Owner Brian Braddish had paid thousands of dollars in civil penalties levied by the state over the years, Smith said, adding that the business had managed to hold on to its liquor license after past cases were settled or adjudicated by the liquor authority. Braddish could not be reached for comment. Terrence Flynn, an attorney who represented the bar, did not return calls for comment.

When asked why the Tiki Bar’s liquor license was not revoked sooner, Smith said that the authority reviews each violation and determines whether to impose a penalty or cancel or revoke the owner’s license on a case-by-case basis. If a license is revoked, the licensee cannot apply for another one for two years, Smith explained.

The Tiki Bar abruptly shut its doors shortly after its license was revoked. The building and business are currently listed for sale for $1 million, according to an ad on Craigslist and New York City-based Picken Realty.

The bar had stoked the ire of residents over the years, including several neighbors who said they had complained about possible underage drinking as well as loud music and noise. Some neighbors, however, said that the bar had gotten its act together in the past few years. Braddish built an enclosure on the patio that reduced the noise, they said, and made other efforts to placate those living nearby.

“We walked by and couldn’t believe it was closed,” said one resident who declined to be identified. “It used to be that the Tiki Bar was one of the bars that the community had issues with. But the owner was trying — he would close the windows at night, he lowered the music and stopped serving outside at a certain hour.”

Others said that the bar was a popular hangout for lifeguards and beachgoers during the summer months and that they were sad to see it close. One city official, speaking on condition of anonymity, said that Braddish was active in the community and was known for hosting charitable fundraisers and events at the bar. He had also made efforts to eliminate underage drinking, the official said.

“I truly believe that he tried to keep the underage crowd out of there the best he could,” the official said. “He knew the community was on his case and he tried to stop it.”

Still, some residents said that the bar’s closure was welcome news. “The revocation of the Tiki Bar’s liquor license is good news for Long Beach,” said Judi Vining, coordinator of the Long Beach Medical Center’s Coalition to Prevent Underage Drinking.

Over the years, Vining explained, people under 21 have acknowledged that they found it easy to buy drinks at the bar. She also said that the Long Beach Police Department issued a number of summonses and made numerous reports to the State Liquor Authority about the bar’s serving minors, which Smith confirmed.

“The SLA issued financial sanctions,” Vining said, “and finally revoked the license of an establishment that continued to serve minors — even when faced with stiff fines.”

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