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Controversial Bar Closed for Code Violations

WILKES-BARRE — Just 15 minutes after our story aired on Newswatch 16 on complaints about a controversial bar in Wilkes-Barre, city officials shut it down....

WILKES-BARRE -- Just 15 minutes after our story aired on Newswatch 16 on complaints about a controversial bar in Wilkes-Barre, city officials shut it down.

Neighbors claim the bar brings criminals and violence into their neighborhood and they hope the temporary shutdown of the bar can become permanent.

Three shootings in three years: the violence did not allow Wilkes-Barre officials to shut down Locals 88 bar on Poplar Street, but a code inspection finding the building "unfit for human habitation" forced the bar to close its doors--for now.

"I would like it closed no matter what the reason because it would benefit the neighborhood," said Richard Derolf of Wilkes-Barre.

Derolf's father owned a neighborhood pub in the 1950s and '60s in the building that is now Locals 88. Derolf says over the years, the bar changed hands and names several times and he says recently became a magnet for criminals from other neighborhoods.

"Our street here would not have any crime on it if wasn't for that corner down there," Derolf added.

City inspectors closed the bar after inspectors found electric, open sewer, plumbing, and building code violations.

The question is will the owner spend the money to fix the many code violations and attempt to reopen the bar? We called the bar owner for answers, but the number was disconnected.

"Please, let this bar be gone. It's very dangerous," said Gloria Deleon, who lives less than 200 yards away from the bar.

She hates weekends.

"You hear people right in front of my property, drunk, arguing. I'm just praying that it shuts down permanently."

Deleon doesn't know if those prayers will be answered, but with so many code violations to fix at Locals 88, she hopes for a few quiet weekends at least.

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