Police investigating whether popular Carnegie bar should be closed as public nuisance

CARNEGIE — A local bar shut down in the fall for violating COVID-19 safety rules is back in the center of another controversy.

People who live near Hottie’s Martini and Cigar Bar say the place has become a public nuisance with overflowing crowds, public drunkenness and rowdy patrons. The establishment became an attraction for partyers during the pandemic, including some NFL players, when it was cited for COVID-19 safety violations like not wearing masks and overcrowding.

11 Investigates has learned Carnegie Police and Pennsylvania Liquor Enforcement officers are investigating Hottie’s as a “nuisance bar” and are gathering complaints from citizens. The bar’s liquor license is up for renewal at the end of May and those comments would be considered by the Pennsylvania Liquor Control Board.

Neighbors frustrated

Nearby residents say they are frustrated with Hottie’s, which backs up to a neighborhood with several homes.

“Public urination, broken bottles, beer cans all over the place,” said Frank Shimatzki, whose home is diagonal to Hottie’s.

“It’s constant turmoil on the street in the evenings,” said his wife, Ann Shimatzki, who has lived in the neighborhood for more than 70 years. “There’s always been a bar or restaurant in there, but nothing like this.”

Another neighbor, Jim Meinahan, shared several videos of the club he took after midnight on weekends. They showed everything from overflowing crowds with rowdy patrons waiting to get in; public drunkenness, including a woman throwing up on the street; cars being towed away; and an individual being arrested outside the bar.

“Lights and sirens, tow trucks, drunk patrons exiting the property, causing all kinds of mayhem,” he said, describing the videos. “It’s become a nightclub. It is a nightclub.”

With so many other bars closed during COVID, Hottie’s and it’s second floor restaurant Agave and Vine- attracted people in droves from all over the area, including some NFL players, as seen in posts on social media.

It’s a nuisance bar. It’s loud. It’s noisy. They’re out here at all hours of the night,” said Linda Evans, whose front porch is just 30 feet away from the back of the bar.

Nuisance Bar Investigation

Carnegie police confirmed to 11 Investigates that there is an active investigation of Hottie’s as a “nuisance bar.” The department has started to post officers outside of Hottie’s on weekend nights to help control the crowds. Residents say the situation is out of control and causing a drain on taxpayer dollars.

“The chief and his sergeant stood post for 4 hour durations, just to keep the calm,” Meinahan said.

Residents say as part of the investigation, Carnegie police, Allegheny County, and Pennsylvania State Police Liquor Enforcement held a meeting with them. Liquor Enforcement handed out questionnaires to neighbors asking them to share their complaints about the place, which will be presented to the Liquor Control Board when Hottie’s liquor license comes up for review at the end of May.

“They advertised it as a bar and restaurant, but it’s become a nightclub,” Meinehan said.

This is not the first time Hottie’s has been investigated. The Allegheny County Health Department issued closure orders for the bar twice in the fall. The establishment was cited for several COVID safety violations, including staying open after hours, lack of face masks, and serving alcohol without a meal.

Nearby residents say the business did not follow the closure order.

“He had signs up saying he was closed, but the parking lot was full and people were flocking in there,” said neighbor Ann Shimatski

Hottie’s files suit

In response to the closure orders, Hottie’s owners filed suit against the county, state, and Carnegie Police. The suit alleges Gov. Tom Wolf overstepped his emergency authority by continuing COVID safety rules for so long. The suit says, “Covid mitigation orders which Carnegie Police, the ACHD (Allegheny County Health Department) and LCB (Liquor Control Board) have attempted to enforce have no valid basis in law.” It also claims the combined actions of those parties have “caused significant financial damages to the Three Durans.”

The Three Durans, LLC is the company that owns Hottie’s, which is run by the Duran family.

11 Investigates spoke with father John Duran, who also owns another popular Carnegie establishment, Duran’s Restaurant.

Duran denied Hottie’s is a public nuisance and said his family is being harassed by police. He said he is concerned about what the neighbors are saying, but insisted they are exaggerating.

“It’s all hearsay,” Duran said in the phone interview. “They complain about everything.”

After describing some of the videos neighbors sent to 11 Investigates, Duran did walk back that statement a little.

“I’m not saying it didn’t happen,” he said, but maintained the neighbors were not being fair.

Duran said his daughter Kimberly Woomer is the one who runs the bar.

“We have respectable people at my family’s establishment,” Woomer said in a text message to 11 Investigates. “NFL players from all over come there because they know it is safe and fun.”

Neighbors want Hottie’s closed down

Neighbors insist the establishment has gone too far flouting the rules, and is ruining the peace and quiet of their neighborhood.

“It’s terrible, it’s absolutely terrible,” Jim Meinehan said. “Carnegie is famous for its bars and its churches, but not like this.”

Both Carnegie Police and Pennsylvania Liquor Enforcement said they could not comment because their investigation is ongoing.

The public complaints and any violation orders against Hottie’s will be presented to the Pennsylvania Liquor Control Board when the bar’s liquor license is up for renewal in May.

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