75 Center to permanently close after year of suspended liquor permit, violence against bouncers

The video above aired on April 5, 2024.

SOUTHINGTON, Conn. (WTNH) — 75 Center is closing… for good this time.

“To our loyal and dear customers. Thank you for the years of memories, friendships, and celebrations along the way. Due to unfortunate circumstances we are going to be locking our doors Wednesday July 3rd for the last time,” bar owners posted on Facebook Sunday.

Owners plan to do a toast at midnight that night to close things out on the right note.

The bar has closed a few times this year, including after a two bouncers were stabbed during a brawl outside the bar in March, and when their liquor permit was suspended not long after.

On March 23, Southington police were summoned to 75 Center for reports of a large-scale altercation and assault . Two employees were found with severe stab wounds to their head, neck, and face. Three people were arrested .

A few days later, Consumer Protection Commissioner Bryan T. Cafferelli signed a summary suspension of their liquor permit.

In a letter to DCP, Southington Police Chief John Daly wrote his department reviewed calls for service at the bar, and found nine calls within the past year.

He wrote, “these calls for service include: patrons overdosing on drugs inside the establishment, physical altercations that started inside the establishment and spill out onto the sidewalk in front of the establishment, intoxicated patrons passing out inside the establishment and needing medical attention, two calls [involving patrons] . . . leaving the establishment and then pulled firearms out and pointed them at people in front of the establishment, [and] patrons with firearms inside the establishment.”

When the bar regained its liquor permit in April, owner John Migliore told News 8 they issued new rules, including a dress code and weapons ban.

They also planned to change the music format and retrain security staff.

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