WILKES-BARRE-- Police say they were near Locals Bar on Poplar Street when they heard gunfire just before 1 a.m. on Sunday.
When they arrived, cops report that they found two women who both had been shot in the foot. The victims were taken to the hospital and are expected to recover.
The bar has been a presence on the block for more than half a century with a number of names and owners. Some who live here say it's time to close it down under the city's nuisance bar act.
There have been a number of incidents at the bar over the years. In 2013, a man died after being shot in the parking lot.
"It was all friendly, there was no criminal element," recalls Richard Derolf. He says his father and uncle owned the bar during the 1970's. Despite the family connection, he says now it needs to be shut. "If they shut the bar down this neighborhood would be much better."
Neighbors tell Newswatch16 that when Mayor Tony George was running for office he came to Poplar Street and promised to get the bar closed if he was elected.
Derolf added, "I voted for him because he was supposed to shut it down."
Another longtime resident Harry Heck said, "I hope the mayor will do something about it because I am friends with Tony George, I voted for him and everything else."
But not everyone who lives on Poplar Street agrees the bar needs to be locked up.
Trayvon Jackson said, " I just think they should have stricter rules, you know, who goes there, dress codes, maybe stuff like that.
Malik Jones added he feels safe inside the bar which he says usually attracts a mature crowd. "Usually, it's calm. Everything is controllable. It is not a bad bar."
The neighbors who want to see the bar gone say they do understand that George has not been mayor for long, and while they are willing to give him some time, they do want to see him take action.
Newswatch 16 called George several times Sunday afternoon to comment, but we have not heard back from him yet. We also reached out to the owner of the bar. However, he was unavailable.
