Three people were shot outside of The Watusi bar at 46th and Walnut early Saturday morning.
NBCPhiladelphia is reporting that two women and a man were shot during an argument that began inside the bar at about 1 a.m. Two women, ages 21 and 24, were grazed by bullets. A 24-year-old man is in critical condition after being shot in the abdomen. A neighbor who lives near the lounge, which has seen gun violence in the past, said that a total of six shots were fired.
“This is the second time this has happened in the past six months,” the neighbor, who asked not to be named, said. “I can’t believe that somewhere where people are bringing concealed loaded weapons is allowed to stay open and face no scrutiny.”
Shots were fired at about the same time on April 26. No one was injured in that incident.
Neighbors have complained about noise and violence at Watusi Lounge and Watusi II at 45th and Locust in the past. The Watusi II was the subject of a community meeting last week to address the dozens of community complaints. The University City Review reported that piles of evidence were presented about everything from drug use at the bar to it serving patrons well after the 2 a.m. closing time.
Despite the complaints and tens of thousands of dollars in back taxes, owner Noel Karasanyi has been able to keep both establishments open.
August 31st, 2013 at 9:32 am
Ugh, I wish this place would get shut down. I used to live in the apartments right there and I heard gunshots, fights and arguments all the time which were well past serving hours.
August 31st, 2013 at 10:22 am
So what exactly DOES a business have to do to get shut down?
August 31st, 2013 at 10:25 am
ridiculous. close it down. any liquor establishment that demonstrates a pattern of violence among its clientele should be shut down. period.
August 31st, 2013 at 10:32 am
white people of west philly sure do hate these places.
August 31st, 2013 at 10:54 am
I just moved into the area, and the gunshots woke me up last night. This bar is usually loud, and sometimes you hear fighting. Police should have someone patrolling the area or something. It seems this bar attracts a “rough” crowd. Which is weird, because I normally would not call the area itself rough.
August 31st, 2013 at 11:02 am
His bar in Cedar Park, the New Third World Lounge, had a shooting on December 30, 2012. 10 shots fired after a fight spilled out from the bar. The only reason no one was hurt was that the guy was a terrible shot.
https://twitter.com/PPDJoeMurray/status/294842476236259328
August 31st, 2013 at 11:23 am
Stay classy, West Philly!
August 31st, 2013 at 12:50 pm
These Taste Great/Less Filling arguments are starting to get out of hand.
Jokes aside, time to shut all three places down. Any objections Councilwoman Blackwell?
August 31st, 2013 at 1:37 pm
Blackwell has only about $1,000 objections. Time for Noel write some more checks!
http://www.philadelphiacontroller.org/2011Cycle7/01312012/Reports/1776059-2011-7-221.pdf
August 31st, 2013 at 3:59 pm
Oh nice find Uh oh! And seriously rgl, “white people of west Philly sure do hate these places”? White people?! Wasn’t aware that a made up posting name could reveal race (please do tell your secret) and it’s really hard to believe that only white people are afraid of themselves or their kids getting shot. How exactly does that work?
August 31st, 2013 at 4:12 pm
Oh yeah, those. I’d almost forgotten about the campaign contributions. Might be time for Councilwoman Blackwell to gracefully disencumber herself from Mr. Karasanyi before the embarrassment becomes more public.
August 31st, 2013 at 6:13 pm
Those place are the worst! I can’t wait till the 49th and Baltimore corner is rid of that s**thole. I understand that bars have only so much control of intoxicated patrons. But as a real estate owner that guy is a disgrace and a lousy businessman. That corner could be so prime for a amazing place. I guess $1000 goes along way. Maybe we should get a fund going and grease someone to pull the liqueur license.
August 31st, 2013 at 6:15 pm
Made public? Like it was made public in this article? http://mobile.philly.com/blogs/?wss=/philly/blogs/our-money/&id=147029495
Sadly, I worry the councilwoman is totally shameless in her support of this guy and the drugs and guns his bars bring to the neighborhood.
August 31st, 2013 at 8:05 pm
I know Spruce Hill Community Association is working on a plan. It seems like a good way to pull resources since they already have so many connections.
August 31st, 2013 at 8:09 pm
Don’t forget this was the councilwoman who declared she was all “ethic’d out.” And remember she “lives” at Melville and Locust. That’s how she gets to be our elected official and the 46th Ward Leader. Guess we should all call her on Tuesday and ask her if she heard the gunshots while at home? Seeing as how she “lives” right there?
August 31st, 2013 at 8:10 pm
Imagine the firestorm of comments if there were multiple shootings associated with gold standard or dock street clients…
No idea if there is still a tax issue at 3rd world lounge, but if there is, I’m happy to donate to put it up for sheriffs sale. The presence of 3rd world lounge seems to be a net negative on the community. I can’t find anything positive to say about it (other than the first floor actually has windows).
September 1st, 2013 at 11:05 am
“I know Spruce Hill Community Association is working on a plan. It seems like a good way to pull resources since they already have so many connections.”
Or you could, you know, stop re-electing corrupt politicians like Blackwell for 20+ years.
September 1st, 2013 at 5:41 pm
while we’re chatting about the New Third World Lounge…
http://www.philebrity.com/2013/08/20/readers-cameraphone-it-wouldnt-be-the-new-3rd-world-without-its-own-pee-pipe-now-would-it/
pee. pipe.
September 1st, 2013 at 5:43 pm
oh, forgot to also add the 311 request that states he was in fact cited for the pee pipe.
http://www.publicstuff.com/pa/philadelphia-pa/maintenance-commercial/maintenance-commercial-95298
September 1st, 2013 at 10:35 pm
The sign says Watutsi, so why is it referred to as Watusi? Just wondering.
September 2nd, 2013 at 11:20 am
This is another case where making it about race serves to obscure the facts and preserve the status quo. There are a lot of interests to be served by playing the race card; unfortunately none are those of the residents of the surrounding community.
September 2nd, 2013 at 1:16 pm
There is less to do about the shooting on this page than personal scores to get 3 businesses closed..if happens outside your property its a law enforcement problem.
Businesses can only and truelly closed by their customers… Customers will always go where the feel welcomed and confortable. Demographic changes in the neighborhood do not mean these new merging changes are inclusive and welcoming to the pre-existing lively hoods. FYI…a business will only change to meet the needs of its customers…
September 2nd, 2013 at 1:45 pm
Tell that to the owner of The Corral that used to be at 52nd and Market. Running a business – one with a liquor license especially – is a privilege not a right. If you can’t figure out how to do it without being a nuisance to your neighbors and a haven for criminal activity, you can and should lose that privilege.
September 2nd, 2013 at 5:50 pm
Isn’t this the place where somebody tells us how dumb the hippies were for hating on the Subway?
September 2nd, 2013 at 9:50 pm
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