The Royal Dorado, the scene of three assaults since May, has been shut down by the Town of Riverhead.
The East Main Street establishment, which advertises itself as a “deli and restaurant” on its sign out front, had a certificate of occupancy for a deli. However, a bar and additional seating had been constructed inside without the necessary permits, according to papers served by the town today 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 this afternoon.
“The effect of these illegal alterations result in an increase in occupant load beyond what was permitted for by this Department, the Fire Marshal’s Office, and the Suffolk County Department of Health Services (SCDHS) Food Control Unit,” senior building inspector Brad Hammond wrote in a letter today to Royal Dorado principal Santos A. Vanegas.
“As you have violated the Certificate of Occupancy, this business may not be operated until the required approvals have been obtained,” Hammond wrote.
Town officials today issued a “Stop-Work Order” along with two summonses for town code violations. The order was posted on the front door of the premises, which was closed and empty this evening.
Walter said the seriousness of the incidents that have taken place at Royal Dorado warrant asking the State Liquor Authority to revoke the Royal Dorado’s liquor license.
The SLA in May 2011 issued a license for on-premises consumption of beer and wine at the location. The classification of its license, “Restaurant Wine” is defined by SLA regulations as a license “for on-premises consumption of wine and beer in a place where food is prepared in such quantities that the sale of wine and beer is not the prime source of revenue.”
The business’ liquor license is due to expire on Sept. 30.
A Royal Dorado patron was stabbed in the abdomen early Saturday morning, according to Riverhead Town Police. The victim was rushed to Stony Brook University Hospital for surgery to repair internal injuries, police said. It was the second stabbing at the premises in less than three months. A man was stabbed in the parking lot outside Royal Dorado in May. Last week, a patron was taken to the hospital for a cut to his head after another patron threw a beer bottle at him. Police made an arrest in that incident, charging Diego Abrego, 23, of Riverhead, with second-degree assault. No arrests in connection with either stabbing have been announced by police.
“We’re not going to tolerate this in the Town of Riverhead. We didn’t tolerate it at Casa Rica and we’re not going to tolerate it here,” Walter said in a phone interview Saturday evening, after police issued a press release about the stabbing early that morning.
Casa Rica Sports Bar, which was located at 65 E. Main St., had its liquor license summarily suspended in November 2010 by the State Liquor Authority, which was already moving to permanently revoke the license. Citing six altercations in the year prior to the suspension, including a machete attack and a stabbing resulting in serious injuries, the SLA commissioners deemed the history serious enough to warrant immediate summary action. Before the agency could begin the hearing, however, the operator surrendered its license rather than attempt to defend revocation charges.
Walter, who as supervisor also serves as Riverhead Police Commissioner, said Saturday Royal Dorado “would be subject to an increased level of scrutiny” both from police and from his office, in light of what appears to be a pattern of violence there. He acknowledged the town receiving prior complaints from residents in the area about activities at Royal Dorado.
One nearby resident said tonight he is glad the town shut the place down and hopes it stays closed.
“We’ve never had a problem with the deli next door,” he said, speaking on the condition of anonymity. “But this place was turned into a bar, and not a nice kind of bar.”
The survival of local journalism depends on your support.
We are a small family-owned operation. You rely on us to stay informed, and we depend on you to make our work possible. Just a few dollars can help us continue to bring this important service to our community.
Support RiverheadLOCAL today.