Bridgeport”™s Mangoz Sports Bar was slapped with a $10,000 fine by the state for violating Gov. Ned Lamont”™s Executive Order No. 9N related to gathering size restrictions during the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic.
The fine was enacted after a Dec. 20 incident at the 456 Connecticut Ave. bar when police were called following reports of gunshots. The Connecticut Department of Public Health, which issued the fine against the business, determined that the business violated the governor”™s edicts on having more than 25 people inside the establishment. It was also open past the state”™s mandatory 10 p.m. closing time.
In addition, the Connecticut Department of Consumer Protection determined Mangoz Sports Bar”™s liquor license expired in August and was not renewed.
“While the overwhelming number of businesses in Connecticut have done a great job partnering with the state and complying with the necessary protocols to prevent the spread of this virus, a small number still think the rules don”™t apply to them, and these enforcement actions are necessary for those who put the health and safety of their customers and staff at risk,” Lamont said in a statement.
“I thank officials with the city of Bridgeport for working with the state to take a strong stand on enforcing these important safety measures.”
This marks the first time that a Connecticut business received a $10,000 fine for violating the governor’s executive orders.
Update: Marlon Pinnock, owner of Mangoz Sports Bar, told the Connecticut Post that his business has been closed since March and that Robert Pierce, the owner of the building, was operating the location as a private club.
“We haven”™t done anything in there for months,” said Pinnock. “We had nothing to do with it whatsoever. The owner of the building got fined.”
Pinnock added that he was planning to reopen Mangoz at another location, but worried that the publicity from the fine would damage his brand.
“We own the rights to that (the Mango”™z brand) but the signage belongs to the building,” Pinnock said. “So when he (Pierce) leased it to whoever took it over, they were supposed to remove our stuff.”
