Controversial Hookah Lounge Apparently Closes In Fairfield

FAIRFIELD, CT — The controversial Sky Hookah Lounge, located at 689 Kings Highway in Fairfield, has apparently closed, much to the joy of neighbors who have long complained of noise and other issues related to the after-hours club, according to the Connecticut Post. Police responded to more than 500 calls for service related to the hookah lounge over the past two years.

The Post reports the lounge had also been the subject of several zoning violations but the property owner, Tom Brennan, withdrew his appeal of the citations because the tenant was evicted which resolved the violations. The club’s signage is gone and a dumpster sits in front of the entrance, according to the Post.

However, Anwar Malas, who has owned and operated the Sky Hookah Lounge since 2009, disputed reports of the lounge’s closing and said in an Oct. 21 post on Facebook that he was not evicted. Malas wrote that recent articles regarding the lounge’s closing is “100% false accusations and will be reviewed by attorney of law (sic).”

Malas, who also thanked his “loyal customers and supporters” in the post, said that media outlets that reported on the closing “are presently being investigated by my attorney's office for extortion and defamation of character.”

Malas wrote that Brennan “has also been involved in an ongoing trial for multiple mistakes within our agreement and failure to settle with us in our seek for justice. Sky hookah lounge is a business in which is obtain a lease agreement rather than bought due to failure of landlord in providing misleading location with lack of parking for commercial business.

“Police report was made regarding in bin placed in front of business is illegal by the landlord and not by the business which have caused hazard to pedestrian walkway. I, Anwar Malas, I opened sky in 2009 with intent of bringing together different cultures, ethnicities, skin color and bloodline within the tri-state reach. Our business is specialized in advance hospitality as well as safety for our clientele. We are not an illegal operated business, in which we hold our Hookah license and is a grandfathered business in state of Connecticut. Our policy is customized to fit all our customers and providing a safe and welcoming environment.”

Malas has three pending charges of disorderly conduct against him, stemming from issues related to the business. All of the charges are awaiting a plea and his next court date is Nov. 13, according to state judicial records.

Related: Neighbors Fed Up With Hookah Lounge In Fairfield

The lounge was the target of complaints by the Kings Highway Neighborhood Association with members previously saying that while the neighborhood endured numerous incidents for several years, it grew to “be such an abhorrent situation that it is affecting our quality of life.”

In his Facebook post, Malas accused neighbors and others of “operating a committee to target, discriminate and extort false reports on media in regards to sky and surrounding citizens of town of bridgeport, stratford,etc.”

“To protect our business we have hired a legal team of attorneys and investigators to further access any laws and evidence that will be used against members of the committee that has used its sources as a weapon for defamation of character,” Malas wrote in the post. “We are seeking all justice and rights that are given to us in our legal system. I, Anwar Malas, have taken action in meeting the needs of surrounding neighbors by lowering bass lines and cleaning all sorts of debris that appear during business hours [even if they aren’t by ours]. We have adjusted our appearance as well as volume of music. But have been only been rejected and used as a target to defamation.

“Sky Lounge will continue its intent in operating legally with supported evidence and laws that are made in which protect our rights and our business. We are continuing are investigation and gathering all articles and proof of evidence that stress our integrity and respect as a business owner and citizen of Town of Fairfield. We are also announcing our process of opening Sky 2.0 in White Plains, NY. We will continue operating sky and will inform you all of updates.”

Read the full Connecticut Post story here.

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