The owners of the troubled Panther Pit Bar and Grill in Pittsburgh’s Oakland neighborhood are facing criminal charges.
This comes after Common Pleas Judge Dan Regan earlier this month ordered the bar be closed for at least a year amid allegations it was a nuisance bar without a liquor license.
Kenneth Plumb, 56, of White Oak, and Prasad Margabandhu, 44, of Murrysville, will face trial for liquor law violations, District Judge Xander Orenstein ordered Wednesday.
Additional charges for liquor law violations were filed against both men Wednesday, according to online court records.
This comes after the Allegheny County District Attorney’s Office filed a civil complaint against the bar’s owner. Police were called to the establishment about 40 times between January 2023 and October.
Police were called for allegations of fighting, underage drinking and alcohol poisoning. The district attorney’s complaint alleged the bar’s operators would charge $20 for unlimited drinks.
The bar had also been raided by Pennsylvania State Police Liquor Control Enforcement agents multiple times. During a September raid, liquor control agents seized nearly 350 gallons of liquor and 80 gallons of beer.
On Feb. 26, 2023, University of Pittsburgh police assisted in an inspection at the Panther Pit. Although the bar was permitted to have only 49 people inside, inspectors said they found 447 occupants.
Around 20 underage drinking citations had been issued at the location.
County sheriffs padlocked the bar earlier this month.
Margabandhu and Plumb will appear in court for formal arraignments Jan. 15, according to online court records.
Margabandhu’s attorney did not immediately respond for requests for comment. Plumb’s online court records did not list a lawyer.