Authorities padlock Oakland's Panther Pit after DA calls it nuisance bar
The Allegheny County Sheriff's Office on Friday padlocked the Panther Pit Bar and Grill in Oakland after the District Attorney's Office alleged that it is a nuisance bar operating without a liquor license.
Located on Meyran Avenue, the Panther Pit was r aided in Septembe r by Pennsylvania State Police Liquor Control Enforcement agents who seized nearly 350 gallons of liquor and 80 gallons of beer. Two previous raids were conducted last year and another was completed on Thursday.
A civil complaint filed Friday in Allegheny County Common Pleas Court by the DA's office alleged that police have been called to the Panther Pit approximately 40 times between January 2023 and last month. There were multiple calls for fighting, including one incident with a machete, as well as underage drinking and alcohol poisoning.
"These incidents all involved violence and disorderly and obscene conduct," the complaint said.
A judge granted the DA's office an emergency injunction to temporarily close the business.
The owners — listed in the complaint as Kenneth Plumb, Prasad Margabandhu and Sivram Bandhu — did not immediately return messages seeking comment.
Among the criminal allegations, the DA's office said there have been aggravated assaults, theft, alcohol sales to minors and drug use.
According to Pittsburgh police, they were approached around 12:30 a.m. on Feb. 25, 2023, by a woman who reported that the business was charging patrons $20 for all you can drink.
On Feb. 26, 2023, University of Pittsburgh police assisted in an inspection at the Panther Pit. Although the bar was permitted to have only 49 people inside, inspectors found 447 occupants.
Although the business allegedly operates as a restaurant, the complaint said, it does not serve any food.
The complaint alleges that the bar is a "continuous and persistent disruption of the surrounding neighborhood," and that it ought to be permanently closed.
A hearing on the injunction is scheduled for Nov. 13.
