The Oakland neighborhood of Pittsburgh is grappling with the aftermath of a local bar's illicit operations. Kenneth Plumb, 56, and Prasad Margabandhu, 44, owners of the Panther Pit, are facing criminal charges for running their establishment without a liquor license. This comes following an order from a judge earlier this month to close the bar for a year, deeming it a public nuisance.
Authorities have cited a history of violations in a crackdown on the Panther Pit. According to CBS News Pittsburgh, the establishment has been raided by liquor enforcement officers, and state police have accused the bar of operating without a liquor license. In a recent raid, officers confiscated nearly 350 gallons of liquor and 80 gallons of beer, marking the third enforcement action taken against the Panther Pit since last year.
The troubles for the Panther Pit stem from a series of incidents. According to a WTAE report, police responded to about 40 calls related to fights, underage drinking, and alcohol poisoning at the establishment from January 2023 through October 2024. Moreover, around 20 citations have previously been issued to the bar specifically for underage drinking.
Further details revealed in the criminal complaint show a bar that skirted procedures and put profit over protocol. The Allegheny County district attorney's office earlier described the Panther Pit's operation, stating, "The Panther Pit in Oakland has allegedly been operating as an unlicensed speakeasy, serving alcohol without a liquor license," and detailing an entry fee that purported unlimited alcoholic drinks, all while failing to check IDs of its patrons. The next court appearance for Plumb and Margabandhu is scheduled for Jan. 15, as they face the legal consequences of their alleged actions, as detailed by WTAE.
