No decision until at least next month on west end hookah bar
KAYLEE LINDENMUTH / SHENANDOAH SENTINEL - The 5 Star Bar at West Centre and North Vine Street on August 22, 2024.
SHENANDOAH – Shenandoah zoners won’t decide whether to allow a hookah bar to operate in the former RJ & Friends bar until at least early September.
The zoning hearing board heard testimony Thursday in an hour-long hearing at borough hall.
Edwin Peretta and Rafael Blanco currently operate 5 Star Bar in the former RJ’s at Centre and Vine Street.
They are seeking zoning permission to add hookahs to their offerings.
Blanco testified that smoking will be in a VIP section on the side of the bar.
Robert Matta, solicitor for the Shenandoah Valley School District, questioned the applicants on various aspects of the application. The bar is about a block from the campus of Shenandoah schools.
Hookahs will not be offered prior to 7pm, Blanco said, and will be inside. The bar closes at 2pm.
The bar also has security with metal detecting wands.
Matta asked Blanco if he was aware of an incident in 2021 when a man was shot and killed outside a Mahanoy City hookah lounge. Blanco said he was aware.
“What can you tell the zoning board here that will assure them that something like that will not happen again,” Matta asked.
“We have security. That bar, they did not have security,” Blanco said.
Blanco said that he does not allow any outside materials into the bar.
Matta also asked Blanco about school activities and what assurances he could give that the bar would not harm students at, heading to, or leaving those activities.
Neighbors raised concerns about parking issues caused by the bar as well as issues with litter in the area.
One neighbor asked Blanco if food is sold at the bar. He said no.
“Let me ask you a question. You don’t serve food, how are you open on a Sunday,” Zoning Board Chairman Charlie Vascavage said.
“I’ve never sold food,” Blanco said.
“But you’re open on Sunday,” Vascavage said.
“We have the license for Sunday,” Blanco said.
“But you have to serve food,” Vascavage said.
The zoning board will reconvene on Sept. 4th to issue a decision.
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