The owner of a hookah lounge on the eastern border of Seattle’s Little Saigon neighborhood where a man was gunned down Monday morning is potentially facing $20,000 in fines for repeatedly staying open past 2 a.m., violating the city’s nightlife ordinance aimed at curbing violence at after-hours venues.
Firew Berjia, who owns the Evangadi Hookah Lounge at 419 Rainier Ave. S. in the Chinatown International District, has been cited five times since July for failing to comply with the ordinance. Passed by the City Council in April, the ordinance requires businesses to obtain liquor licenses and after-hours permission from the state Liquor and Cannabis Board to operate between 2 and 6 a.m., after stopping sales and locking up liquor.
To operate after hours, businesses must also hire security staff, install cameras at all entrances, check patrons for weapons and file a safety plan with the city…