Troy restaurant forced to close ballroom after recent shooting
TROY, N.Y. (NEWS10) -- A restaurant in Troy must shut down its ballroom space after the city found numerous violations and recent violence. According to the city, The Grill Mediterranean Cuisine and Megan Istanbul Food Court just opened two years ago but did not have the correct permit to be operating the way it was.
Some local residents said they've never had a bad experience at the restaurant.
“My experience was the people are great, you know, they cater to you like any other business," said Felito Poncedeleon, a Troy resident who has been to the restaurant before.
“They've always been very friendly to me as somebody who works on the block," said Sina Hickey, a Troy resident.
Troy Mayor Carmella Mantello said the city called for this restaurant to close its ballroom, which is the room next to the restaurant, after discovering they were using it as a nightclub without permission. Mantello said the restaurant had a permit to operate the ballroom for events such as birthday parties, but nothing more.
“He was contacted three weeks ago," said Mantello, over the phone with NEWS10's Vanessa Blasi. "Troy police and code told them you are immediately to cease any nightclub atmosphere, etc. operations. Needless to say, unfortunately the owner decided to have a nightclub at this space again this past weekend and there was a shooting."
Police responded at 2:30 a.m. Saturday for a report of a shooting at 908 River St. A preliminary investigation revealed the victim and suspect were arguing at the restaurant and the suspect shot the victim. The victim was transported to a local hospital and is recovering. However, Mantello said that was the last straw for the ballroom.
“It's not going to happen under my watch. We will not tolerate that," said Mantello.
Although called for an "immediate operation cease" for the ballroom, Mantello said the owner of the Grill Mediterranean Cuisine Restaurant has every right to apply for a night club permit. However, she does not think it will get approved.
Mantello said she has received numerous complaints from neighbors in recent months, mostly over loud noise.
“They're in the middle of a neighborhood and this is not the spot for night club," said Mantello. "We want businesses in our neighborhoods but we don't want night clubs smack down in the middle of our neighborhoods and attracting the violence that happened last week."
“It is complicated," said Hickey. "I have heard noise complaints from neighbors. I've been a neighbor on the other side of the block, I haven't been disrupted by them, what I do know is that they are very hardworking folks."
In part of a statement from the city, Mantello also said the establishment cannot have excessively loud music anymore either.
"This establishment has repeatedly defied maximum occupancy laws," Mantello said in part of a statement.
Some residents believe the violence does not have to do with the restaurant, but rather a bigger problem in Troy.
"It's a great establishment. The community wants it, it ain't like the community is out here picketing to shut them down, if it was that then I could see, but that's not the case here. Violence they got nothing to do with," said Poncedeleon.
The restaurant owner was not available to speak with NEWS10 on Tuesday but he said they're making all key decisions today, including if they will change their hours. Before this, their hours were 11:30 a.m. to 1 a.m. on most days. The restaurant portion of the building is still open to the public.