STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- On September 11 during a “Dine Out to Remember” fundraiser, a State Liquor Authority (SLA) inspector checked up on Joyce’s Tavern. The upshot of the visit: the Eltingville eatery has lost its license to sell booze.
A Special Full Board Meeting of the SLA was live streamed to YouTube on Saturday, Sept. 12. Counsel for the SLA made the case that at 9:25 p.m. on Friday Inspector Matthew Davis observed a capacity-filled rear patio at Joyce’s but did not find any violations. When the inspector proceeded inside, however, he noted 10 seated patrons who appeared to be consuming beverages. Another person referred to as a patron who sat a separate table also appeared to be consuming food and wine, according to the SLA hearing. Also as per the SLA’s account of the matter, Joe O’Toole, an owner of Joyce’s, supposedly confirmed to the inspector that the 10-top had just finished eating. In the recording of the hearing, O’Toole reportedly maintained that a pregnant woman was in the party.