Opinion
March 25, 1974
Determination of respondent State Liquor Authority, dated on or about August 29, 1973, disapproving petitioner's application for a restaurant wine license, unanimously annulled, on the law, without costs or disbursements, and the matter remanded to respondent State Liquor Authority for further proceedings consistent herewith. Concededly, the premises have an adverse license and police record and one of the brothers of petitioner's sole principal (erroneously referred to as a "convicted felon" by the Authority) was present at the restaurant sought to be licensed when the underworld figure Joey Gallo was fatally shot therein. However, on the record before us, we find insufficient factual support for the Authority's refusal to credit petitioner's uncontradicted testimony to the effect that Robert Ianniello is the sole party in interest or its conclusion that the issuance of a license to this applicant "would create a high degree of risk in the administration and enforcement of the Alcoholic Beverage Control Law." Petitioner's principal has fully and satisfactorily disclosed the source of the funds used to acquire and renovate the premises and he now represents that he will resign his present employment and devote full time to the business. Respondents' fear that petitioner lacks sufficient experience to operate a restaurant is refuted by the substantial gross food sales for the months subsequent to the filing of the application. Finally, respondents concede that their reference to a nearby school, and the location of its entrance doors, does not provide a ground for a mandatory disapproval of the application. In sum "we can only conclude under the facts of this case that the Authority's determination was arbitrary and capricious, being based upon conclusory reasons, unsupported by factual considerations". ( Matter of Farina v. State Liq. Auth., 20 N.Y.2d 484, 493.)
Concur — Kupferman, J.P., Murphy, Tilzer and Lane, JJ.