POUGHKEEPSIE – An illegal “club” was shut down by the City of Poughkeepsie police and building departments on Thursday around 9:30 p.m.
The Play Coffee Cafe, Gallery, and Lounge at 188 Main Street had several patrons inside the makeshift “club” when city officials arrived to shut the business down for not having the required Certificate of Occupancy (CO).
The owner, who has had similar problems with the city at his previous locations on Main Street, met the police and building department officials at the door while the patrons continued drinking from paper coffee cups. The owner told Building Inspector Eric Philipp that he had been approved to open by the deputy building inspector. Philipp said the only permits in place for the premises were building permits, which allow construction work at the establishment, and no CO had been issued.
Several patrons arrived and sought entry, but were turned away by the police, who informed them that the club was closing.
The owner was issued citations and told he needed to meet with the deputy building inspector on Friday to review the alleged discrepancies in the paperwork. While assessing the cafe, Philipp told the owner that he was not in compliance with fire safety laws because his smoke detectors were covered over.
A neighbor told Mid-Hudson News that the cafe was “not legal by any means,” adding that “They want us to believe they are just a coffee shop that happens to be open to midnight and has bouncers out front. We’re not fooled,” he said, asking to not have his name published for fear of retaliation.
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