SCRANTON — In a civil complaint against a nuisance bar in North Scranton, a judge on Thursday evicted the business and ruled the property cannot contain another bar for a year.
An injunction complaint filed Oct. 6 by Lackawanna County District Attorney Brian Gallagher stemmed from a “riot-like” fight during the early morning of Oct. 3, a Saturday, at Solstice Bar & Grill, 117 West Market St. A large crowd spilled into the street, blocking it and requiring a countywide police response from dozens of police units to quell the disturbance and restore order.
The legal action was filed against Solstic3 LLC, doing business as Solstice Bar & Grill, Khalil Rashid Rivera, the registered manager and officer of Solstic3 LLC, property owner John Myers, and Myers 117 LTD and Myers Place LLC.
Gallagher’s complaint and emergency motion filed on behalf of the state and city asked the Lackawanna County Court of Common Pleas to declare Solstice a public nuisance and permanently shut it down.
The complaint cited the following reasons supporting a shutdown:
• An affidavit of Scranton police officer Andrew J. Hudak that said: “Based upon my personal observations, the October 3, response involved repeated fighting and violent conduct at and immediately outside Solstice while police officers were already present and performing their duties,” and “The repeated incidents required officers to respond to and control multiple disturbances in the immediate vicinity of the establishment.”
• In recent years, Scranton police responded to numerous incidents of fights, shootings, assaults, drug and weapons offenses and disorderly conduct at Solstice. Patrons also had often left the business and committed crimes with weapons elsewhere in the county.
• The establishment had at least seven liquor control enforcement violations over 18 months, regarding noise, failure to require patrons to leave and after-hour sales, and alcohol sales while the license was expired.
• On Sept. 14, Rivera pleaded guilty to two felony offenses in Luzerne County, including a false medical assistance claim and theft by deception/false impression, and has sentencing scheduled for Nov. 23. This case “bears directly on his reputability and fitness” to operate a bar.
Earlier this month, Judge Michael Barrasse granted a temporary closure of the business pending a hearing Thursday.
Rivera did not attend Thursday’s hearing or file responses in court to the district attorney’s petition for a shutdown.
Along with barring a tavern at the building for a year, the maximum allowed, First Assistant Prosecutor Andrew Krowiak also asked that Solstice be evicted from the premises.
“So ordered,” Barrasse said.
Property owner John Myers said during the hearing he did not contest the prosecution’s request for the building to not have a bar for a year. After the hearing, Myers said he’s looking to sell the building.
Also after the hearing, Gallagher said of Myers: “The owner, to his credit, has been cooperative” with the prosecution in the legal proceedings.
Law enforcement gathers outside Solstice Bar on West Market Street in Scranton before applying a lock to the door on Tuesday, Oct. 6, 2026. (CHAD SEBRING/STAFF PHOTO)
Deputy Chief County Detective Chris Kolcharno installs a lock on the door of the Solstice Bar on West Market Street in Scranton on Tuesday, Oct. 6, 2026. (CHAD SEBRING/STAFF PHOTO)
A notice is posted on the front door of Solstice Bar on West Market Street in Scranton on Tuesday, Oct. 2026. (CHAD SEBRING/STAFF PHOTO)
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Law enforcement gathers outside Solstice Bar on West Market Street in Scranton before applying a lock to the door on Tuesday, Oct. 6, 2026. (CHAD SEBRING/STAFF PHOTO)