Authorities say they shut down a bar in Pittsburgh’s Lincoln-Lemington neighborhood after repeated failed inspections and several criminal incidents.
In a press release, the Allegheny County District Attorney’s Office said the bar, Da Kave, had been operating as an “unlicensed speakeasy … involved in multiple criminal incidents, including shots fired, fights, sexual assault, possession of firearms and selling and dispensing alcohol without a license.”
A civil complaint filed by Allegheny County District Attorney Stephen A. Zappala said law enforcement agencies responded to eight incidents of “disorderly conduct” at Da Kave between July 2024 and May 2026.
In a separate incident, undercover Liquor Control Enforcement Bureau officers said they arrived at Da Kave and observed patrons bringing in their own alcohol and smoking marijuana on the premises. The patrons also were not charged for the drinks they ordered, officials said.
The civil complaint cited multiple investigations by state agencies that revealed Da Kave lacked several licenses necessary to continue operations.
Da Kave sold hookah on the premises and held special events but did not have the appropriate license from the Pennsylvania Liquor Control Board to do so, according to investigators.
The bar’s health permit, issued by the Allegheny County Health Department, had been improperly filed and invalidated, officials said. The business was classified as a restaurant without liquor.
Da Kave “failed” five inspections conducted by the Pittsburgh Bureau of Fire for issues including missing building permits, occupancy limits, fire extinguishers, proper kitchen appliances and permanent wiring, officials said.
There were suspicions following inspections by the Department of Licenses and Permits that there was an animal infestation outside the bar’s kitchen, according to the civil complaint.
“After a long, concerning timeline of events, it is in the best interests of the community to cease the operations of this establishment,” Zappala said in a press release. “It’s a very serious decision; however, the safety and security of neighbors, as well as the patrons and employees of the business, is our top priority.”