East Side bar and restaurant shut down for operating without license and ongoing reports of violent crime

PKWY Lounge & Grill has been shut down.

According to a press release from the office of Columbus City Attorney Zach Klein, the city obtained an order to shutter the East Side establishment–which is located at 5200 Riding Club Ln.–yesterday. 

PKWY had allegedly been serving alcohol without a valid liquor license, and was also the site of numerous police calls due to violent crime and other incidents.

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According to the press release, the only liquor license that had been issued to the premises was in the name of Zettler LLC., which operated Atlantis Grill & Sports Bar at the location before PKWY took over the space. PKWY allegedly applied for a transfer of the Atlantis permit into its name last June, but this was denied by the city. On May 4, the Division of Liquor Control rejected the renewal of the license.

On multiple occasions after May 4, undercover Columbus Police PACT officers purchased beer and liquor at the East Side bar and restaurant.

“Businesses that don’t abide by the law and threaten public safety will be held accountable for their actions. We will shut you down,” Klein said in a press release. “This bar was illegally operating without a liquor license, but to make matters worse, it was a hub for gun crimes and lawlessness that threatened the safety of patrons and area residents.”

Allegedly, PKWY has been the scene of more than 60 different calls for police service since last February, including multiple violent incidents. These include stabbings, assault, fights, vehicle thefts and at least five different incidents of gunfire on the premises, with one taking place as recently as April 30.

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