City of Boston Threatens to Shutdown Popular Sports Bar

A well-known sports bar near Boston’s North Station was raided by authorities Thursday night after racking up more than 20 violations since 2014, including violent altercations and injuries stemming from the overconsumption of alcohol.

According to the Boston Herald, city officials have labeled The Greatest Bar on Friends Street as a “problem property.”

The bar’s owner must now supposedly meet with city officials or be closed down.

Police officers, along with Inspectional Services Commissioner William Christopher and Jerome Smith of Boston’s Problem Properties Task Force, entered the bar and informed manager Mario Menduni that his occupancy permit would be revoked if the city’s request for a meeting is not fulfilled.

“The history of this property is intense, and when we try to work with them, they’ve been unresponsive,” Christopher said of the bar. “We’re trying to send a clear message.”

The Greatest Bar countered with a statement Friday morning, disputing what’s been said about their willingness to cooperate with the city.

“While we are always willing and eager as a business to work with the City to address any violations or concerns, there appears to have been a breakdown in communication between the Task Force and the owners and management of The Greatest Bar,” the statement read.