Committee defers Portofino liquor-license renewal after past complaints and 2024 shooting cited

The Economic Development and Public Safety Committee of the Bronx Community Board reviewed a renewal application for Portofino, a restaurant at 2008 Williamsbridge Road, on May 21, 2025, but declined to make a recommendation because the committee did not have a quorum.

Committee members said they would present the application to the full board at its May 22 meeting so members there could question the applicant and review additional records before the board takes a position that would be forwarded as a recommendation to the New York State Liquor Authority.

Committee members and the applicant discussed three incidents cited in police notes and correspondence: a noise complaint on Sept. 20, 2024 for loud music; an Oct. 11, 2024 arrest connected to machines later removed from the premises, which the applicant said was dismissed; and a shooting in the street near the location in mid-September 2024.

Mr. Kirk, identified in the meeting as the owner of Portofino, said the machines that were the subject of the October enforcement action were removed and that the case was dismissed before reaching a judge. "The case was dismissed before go to a judge," he said. He also said the enclosure or "shed" used during the pandemic had been removed and that the building-code violations tied to it had been satisfied.

Detective Hall of the NYPD, who joined the meeting remotely, declined to provide investigative particulars at the committee meeting, saying the matters were still under investigation. "I do know that things are still underneath investigation, so it might be something difficult to, to give to you guys," Detective Hall said.

The applicant agreed to forward documentation to committee staff, including a letter from the district attorney's office indicating it declined to prosecute and records related to the October arrest and dismissal. Committee staff said they will add those materials to the full board packet for the next meeting.

Because the committee lacked the members needed to take a formal vote, the chair said he would present the Portofino renewal application to the full board, where members may ask questions about the shooting, noise complaints and past enforcement history before the board issues a recommendation to the liquor authority.

Votes at the committee meeting: none (no quorum).