A Hamden bar that did not have its liquor license renewed by the state is now encouraging customers to bring their own alcohol.
Town officials lobbied for the Department of Consumer Protection Liquor Control to revoke Slyce Pizza Bar’s liquor license because neighbors raised concerns about violent crime in the surrounding area.
“This is a restaurant, not a club,” said David Casanova who lives near 141 Arch St. “It wound up being a club, that’s why they lost their liquor license.
“After about 9 or 10 o’clock at night, we just knew not to come by here because there were a lot of people and it seemed like a dangerous area,” Casanova added.
Hamden Police Chief Thomas Wydra said he learned Slyce is now advertising itself as BYOB “almost immediately after we found out that the liquor control commission had denied the renewal permit” at the end of April, he said.
The Hamden Town Planner and Town Attorney are reviewing what they can do to regulate “Bring Your Own Booze” businesses at the local level, Wydra said.
“As far as I know, they’re not in violation of any local laws or any state laws,” Wydra told NBC Connecticut. “We did check with liquor control at the state level and they informed us nothing they would get involved with once the renewal permit was denied that means there’s no regulatory authority involved.”
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Regular Slyce customer Kwamaine McCarter said Slyce has been unfairly punished and that the business is not responsible for crime plaguing the surrounding area.
“Everywhere you go is drama,” McCarter said. “You can’t run from drama. Anywhere you put liquor and people it can be drama.”
Chief Wydra stands by the DCP’s decision that Slyce lost its privilege to sell liquor based on the testimony from 16 witnesses.
“This particular establishment causes concern because for a long time we believed that alcohol in some ways was at least fueling the violence that was occurring in the parking lot and around the neighborhood,” Wydra said.
While he is a concerned neighbor, Casanova said he doesn’t want to see Slyce go out of business.
“I’m hoping they can survive on their pizza it’s a good pie,” he said. “I’d recommend people stop here and eat the pizza. I hope the bar disappears and this BYOB is not something that lasts.”
NBC Connecticut reached out to the attorney for Slyce’s owner but did not hear back. In the past, the owner has told NBC Connecticut he’s unsure if his business can survive without serving alcohol.
