Auburndale residents, business owners and local politicians rally against “out-of-control” bar Kloud Tequila Grill (Courtesy of the Greater Flushing Chamber of Commerce)
Oct. 19, 2021 By Allie Griffin
A group of Auburndale residents, business owners and local politicians are calling on the city to shut down a local bar they say has made their lives a living hell for the past eight months.
Dozens rallied outside Kloud Tequila Grill, located at 192-08 Northern Blvd., Saturday to draw attention to a long list of issues with the bar and its patrons that they said have been happening nonstop.
Neighbors described issues with the bar playing loud music late at night—and customers littering, urinating on the street, drag racing and performing public sex acts. They said the problems have taken place daily for the past eight months, typically from midnight to 3 a.m. making it difficult to sleep.
“Kloud Tequila Grill is destroying our neighborhood and putting our safety at risk,” said Theodora Tsourapis, President of the Auburndale Northern Association. “Ever since Kloud Tequila Grill opened, my family’s life has been a living nightmare.”
Tsourapis said the loud music, trash and speeding cars have become a safety issue.
“We can’t sleep because of the loud music and screaming until 5 a.m. every day,” she said. “The constant noise, drag racing, garbage, and sexual activity right outside our home is affecting our health and neighborhood safety.”
Auburndale residents, business owners and local politicians rally against “out-of-control” bar Kloud Tequila Grill (Courtesy of the Greater Flushing Chamber of Commerce)
The complaints aren’t limited to nearby residents. Owners of neighboring businesses have also had it with Kloud Tequila Bar.
“Every day we find garbage, vomit, empty liquor bottles scattered around the block,” business owner Dosung Andrew Jung said. “Our safety is put at risk with drag racing by intoxicated patrons. Our quality of life is ruined with unacceptable noise from Kloud and sex acts inside parked cars at night. We demand City Hall shut down Kloud now!”
They also claim that the bar owner illegally built a back deck without proper building permits.
“Kloud Tequila Grill is an irresponsible business that allows customers to bring alcohol outside and drink in our neighborhood, urinate and vomit in front of our stores, and trash our sidewalks,” said Jessica Shim, CEO of Café Auburndale, which sits adjacent to Kloud Tequila Grill. “The owner does not clean up after his customers, builds illegal structures, and has little regard for the safety of our community,”
Shim said the “out-of-control” bar is another obstacle the local businesses are forced to face after a grueling year due to the pandemic.
The bar’s neighbors said they have put in numerous 311 complaints to no avail. They want City Hall to shut down the establishment.
Kloud Tequila Grill didn’t immediately respond to a request for comment.
