Burlington County restaurant has liquor license suspended after large Fourth of July celebration

A Burlington County restaurant has had its liquor license suspended, along with its permit to serve alcohol in outdoor areas following a “raucous” Fourth of July part that violated Gov. Phil Murphy’s COVID-19 executive orders.

News 12 Staff

Sep 3, 2020, 8:50 PM

Updated 1,498 days ago

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A Burlington County restaurant has had its liquor license suspended, along with its permit to serve alcohol in outdoor areas following a “raucous” Fourth of July part that violated Gov. Phil Murphy’s COVID-19 executive orders.
The New Jersey Office of the Attorney General says that Il Portico Ristorante in Burlington City was charged with numerous violations regarding conduct that took place inside and outside the restaurant on the night of July 3 into the early morning hours of July 4.
The party was billed as a “quarantine release party.” Officials say that about 500 people attended the party, in violation of social distancing restrictions. There were patrons seen not wearing masks and the business was serving customers outside of normal business hours.
Officials also say that follow-up inspections on Aug. 14 found that Il Portico Ristorante was again allowing customers to drink alcohol inside of the restaurant, in violation of the executive order.
“The actions announced today puts licensees on notice that they will be held accountable if they violate the safety measures in place to protect the public from the unnecessary risk of COVID-19 spread,” Attorney General Gurbir Grewal said in a statement. “We will not allow our state’s reopening efforts to be compromised by bar and restaurant owners who conduct themselves with disregard for the laws and regulations of this State.”
The Attorney General’s Office says that the suspensions for the two incidents run concurrently from Aug. 22 through Sept. 4.