The Blue Face Global Hookah Lounge at 1826 N. Main Ave. has permanently closed by agreement of the property owner and the District Attorney’s office.
In November, the Lackawanna County District Attorney’s Office was granted an injunction to temporarily close the problem property and requested the court declare the business a nuisance and shut it down permanently.
Granting of the injunction followed an investigation that centered on the business and resulted in the arrest of nine people alleged to have participated in gang activity.
The nine are believed to be associated with the Crips street gang and are charged with various drug-trafficking, weapons-related and corrupt organization offenses.
In court paperwork that requested the initial injunction, First Assistant District Attorney Brian Gallagher described the establishment as a “drug nuisance” that had a negative impact on the neighborhood.
An agreement between the parties dated Dec. 19, indicates that Ken Scranton, LLC, owner of the property, has legal authority to determine what tenant would occupy the building.
The document indicates that Marshall Weisman, of New York, who was named as a respondent in the original court paperwork, is not an owner of the property.
Dwight Smith, who operated the business and was among the nine arrested, now has no standing in the matter, because Ken Scranton LLC has terminated the tenancy of Blue Face Global Hookah Lounge.
Marshall Weismann, spokesperson for Ken Scranton LLC, has indicated the business is seeking new tenants, according to the stipulation.
The stipulation indicates none of the respondents, which include Ken Scranton LLC, The Blue Face Global Hookah Lounge, Dwight Smith, Nasser Real Estate, Abbas Mohammadzad and Marshall Weismann, filed a formal response to the Commonwealth’s original Petition and Complaint requesting the business be permanently closed.