Oakland’s Panther Pit Closed by Authorities for Public Nuisance and Unlicensed Liquor Sales

The Panther Pit, a bar and grill situated in Oakland’s bustling Meyran Avenue, has been shuttered by authorities following allegations by the Allegheny County District Attorney’s Office that the establishment was a public nuisance. Over 350 gallons of liquor and 80 gallons of beer were confiscated in a raid this September, as detailed by

TribLive

. Not holding a liquor license, the venue has also been the subject of almost 40 police calls in less than a year, with reports ranging from underage drinking to aggravated assaults.

Stephen Zappala, the Allegheny County District Attorney, branded the venue a nuisance bar, leading to the enforcement of the padlocking order by the County Sheriff’s Office. Following the recent raid, the establishment was ordered to remain closed for at least five days, as reported by

Audacy

. This follows a series of events that have plagued the site, with previous raids not only uncovering illicit alcohol sales but also high-risk health violations, such as the discovery of spoiled chicken tenders in a malfunctioning walk-in cooler that was almost 80 degrees.

The Panther Pit owners, Kenneth Plumb, Prasad Margabandhu, and Sivram Bandhu, were named in the complaint, though they have not immediately responded to requests for comments. This intervention by the district attorney’s office aligns with a civil complaint that painted a disturbing picture of the bar as a source of violence and disorderly and obscene conduct.

The venue’s allegations extend beyond unlicensed alcohol sales to high-risk health infringements, such as the presence of black mold and a significant fruit fly infestation reported by

Audacy

. The bar purportedly operates as a restaurant but has no food service. Furthermore, during an inspection, the bar was found to be over capacity, with 447 people crammed into a space permitted for only 49.

A hearing regarding the emergency injunction that has led to the temporary closure of the business is set for November 13. In addition to the troubles at the bar, Margabandhu also faced sentencing in federal court in January for bankruptcy fraud and mail fraud, and both he and Plumb were charged with illegal liquor sales by Liquor Control Enforcement in September.

Note: Thank you for visiting our website! We strive to keep you informed with the latest updates based on expected timelines, although please note that we are not affiliated with any official bodies. Our team is committed to ensuring accuracy and transparency in our reporting, verifying all information before publication. We aim to bring you reliable news, and if you have any questions or concerns about our content, feel free to reach out to us via email. We appreciate your trust and support!