The infamous Ballpark Tavern in Bristol Township was closed to customers this past weekend.
On Monday, the Bucks County District Attorney’s Office and Pennsylvania State Police Bureau of Liquor Control Enforcement made clear the reason. Officials said they received an order from a judge to temporarily close the establishment following problems.
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Law enforcement officials called the bar and strip club in the 7200 block of Route 13 in Bristol Township’s Levittown section a “public nuisance.”
For years, police have been called to Ballpark Tavern and the area surrounding it for disturbance calls. In 2015, an undercover investigation alleged prostitution was happening at the business.
“Since 2017, law enforcement has documented a pattern of illegal and irresponsible behavior from the operators of Ballpark Tavern, its employees, and patrons,” said Major Scott T. Miller, director of the state police’s Bureau of Liquor Control Enforcement. “Beyond repeated violations of the liquor code, we uncovered instances of public drunkenness, prostitution, and overdoses that were negatively affecting people and other businesses in the area.”
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Officials said the action to obtain a court order to close Ballpark Tavern came due to work by the state police, Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources, Bristol Township police, and the district attorney’s office. The petition was filed in court earlier this month, and the sheriff’s office was on scene Friday.
“This is a quality of life issue,” said Bucks County District Attorney Matt Weintraub. “Closing down the Ballpark Tavern is an important step toward protecting the people in this community and cleaning up the area.”
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“Under section §6-611 of the liquor code, the court can prevent the business from being operated for one year if authorities present proper cause; in the form of liquor code violations, police incidents, and community complaints. The hearing will take place in the Bucks County Court of Common Pleas on Tuesday, June 25,” a statement from state police said.
Nearby Levittown residents told investigators that the Ballpark Tavern caused issues for years, the court filing stated.
Rangers from the Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources, according to the court filing, have noted that there have been complaints that customers have been polluting the Delaware Canal State Park behind the business.
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A recent search of the Ballpark Tavern’s online reviews uncovered several overt mentions of prostitution services allegedly offered.
A call to the Ballpark Tavern was not answered on Monday.
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State police said anyone with input can contact the Bureau of Liquor Control Enforcement’s Allentown office at 610-366-2600.
