'All is quiet' after problematic late-night coney island cuts midnight shift
Officials say calm has returned to Luca's Coney Island.
Tom Perkins | For AnnArbor.com
In the months between August 2011 and January 2012, there was at least one thing Washtenaw County Sheriff's Office deputies in Ypsilanti Township could rely on: They would respond to at least one call every three nights, on average, coming from the 24-hour Luca’s Coney Island located at 2469 Washtenaw Ave.
That's about 225 calls in the last four and a half years, with 70 percent of them coming in between 2 and 5 a.m.
The incidents included large fights, assaults, credit card fraud, disorderly conduct, larceny and more. Neighbors behind Luca’s regularly complained about the noise, multiple individuals driving under the influence and several drug arrests.
The problems culminated on Jan. 11 when one customer pulled out a gun and put it to the back of another customer's head. The man then pointed it in a waitress’s face. The Ann Arbor man was sentenced to nearly three years behind bars following the incident.
In many cases, the sheriff's office requested assistance from police in Pittsfield Township, Ann Arbor, the City of Ypsilanti, Eastern Michigan University and the Michigan State Police because not enough deputies were staffed to handle the late-night crowd as well as the rest of the township.
But after a discussion about the issues with Luca’s owner Frank Gjoka, as well as the property’s owner, Gjoka agreed to shut down the business between midnight and 6 a.m., when a crowd familiar to county officials filled his restaurant and drained police resources.
“I’ve never been in trouble, I never like trouble, not just in my place but nowhere,” Gjoka said. “I work hard with the community to bring peace and love. I’m happy to serve people in my restaurant best we can. We have a very good atmosphere. I believe I’m 100 percent sure I made the right decision.”
That move has earned praise from law enforcement and Ypsilanti Township officials.
“The owner making adjustments in hours of operation is huge,” said sheriff's office spokesman Derrick Jackson. “With them being closed during those hours, obviously those issues are not happening.
“They’re a business and they can do their own thing, so I think it can’t be underestimated that he, as a business owner, took that step. It came down to him doing the right thing.”
This isn’t the first time Gjoka has closed the restaurant during those hours. It was shut late nights on several occasions in 2010 and 2011, but Gjoka reopened each time.
He even went as far as hiring security guards, though they were ineffective. He said this time he won’t consider reopening.
“The place is very good, it’s quiet (and) everybody's happy,” Gjoka said. “It’s a good atmosphere and I hope we can keep it like that. I’m never thinking about opening at that time again.”
Mike Radzik, director of the township’s office of community standards, said he is pleased police resources are no longer tied up and the neighbors’ have some relief.
He also said the resolution is a plus as the township sees increased economic development along the Washtenaw Avenue corridor.
"That situation was counterproductive to everyone’s end goal, so we’re glad it's no longer an issue,” he said.
Gjoka said his main concern was cutting employment for his night staff, though he said he has been able to help them find jobs or keep working other hours.
“Everyone is happy. I’m happy, the customers are happy, so it’s a good atmosphere,” he said. “Like I said, I made the absolutely right decision.”
Tom Perkins is a freelance reporter. Contact the AnnArbor.com news desk at news@annarbor.com.
Comments
Speedy Squirrel
Sat, May 25, 2013 : 11:10 p.m.
Well, here's the deal. Let's say there is an apartment complex that does no background checks on the people that move in, and that said complex caters to people that could not pass such a background check. Also, by offering extremely low move - in costs, it favors people who are in a tight spot. Soon word gets around. People who cannot pass a background check and who are in a tight spot start gravitating there. These people might not have the best socialization skills, so when they all wind up at the same place, they do not order lattes and discuss their differences amicably. What to do about it? Anyone?
grimmk
Sat, May 25, 2013 : 6:05 a.m.
Guess they'll have to go back to Denny's.
greg s
Sat, May 25, 2013 : 12:43 a.m.
thanks to the low life, no one can enjoy a late night bite to eat. Lock them all up.
Jay Thomas
Fri, May 24, 2013 : 11:36 p.m.
The usual suspects will find another late night eatery to carry on the tradition.
nickcarraweigh
Fri, May 24, 2013 : 8:52 p.m.
Turning off a porch light doesn't get rid of the mosquitoes, it just sends them elsewhere.
Sue
Sat, May 25, 2013 : 5:07 a.m.
that's right, they need to be smacked or zapped to get rid of the problem!
Nicholas Urfe
Fri, May 24, 2013 : 7:17 p.m.
It is not the role of taxpayer funded law enforcement to babysit a private business. You must hire security or restrict your hours, as this man has done. If the hired security is ineffective, hire better security. That often means hiring off-duty or retired cops. And, yes, it says a lot about the community that this even happens. That is why we make "Ypsi" jokes, and comparisons to Detroit. This reminds me of why those comparisons have some validity.
Grover
Sat, May 25, 2013 : 9:30 p.m.
Actually, the security they had in place cut down the problems drastically. Only problem was. He only had security two days a week.
Basic Bob
Sat, May 25, 2013 : 12:57 p.m.
All joking aside, the one convicted criminal at this restaurant was from Ann Arbor.
Thoughtful
Sat, May 25, 2013 : 3:01 a.m.
Sure thing SEC. If the citizens were not speeding, the abundant sheriffs deputies in Washtenaw County, along with their extensive budget, could focus on all crime everywhere. Do you have any idea how few deputies cover a very large county?
a2citizen
Fri, May 24, 2013 : 9:20 p.m.
SEC, law enforcement knows that the beating two people take fighting each other will do more to prevent future fights than any punishment meted out by our court system.
SEC Fan
Fri, May 24, 2013 : 8:24 p.m.
But it is the the role of taxpayer funded law enforcement to uphold the peace and enforce laws so that law-abiding citizens can go about making a living. This is a Coney Island...not a some dive bar serving alcohol after hours. I find it completely astounding that although all local law enforcement knew all about the troubles at this location during these hours, they did absolutely nothing about it until complaints were called in. Perhaps, if our law enforcement agencies spent less time issuing speeding tickets and looking for more serious crimes, they might actually see it.
tdw
Fri, May 24, 2013 : 7:30 p.m.
Nicholas.....If you take a look at crime map you will see that crime in Ann Arbor is WAY under reported.And you will also see that the majority of crime in Ypsi and Ypsi twp occurs in a few certain areas
Soothslayer
Fri, May 24, 2013 : 6:42 p.m.
Good. No one needs to be eating junk food at all hours anyway. Better for everyones health and healthcare now and long term. Nothing good ever happens after midnight.
Nicholas Urfe
Fri, May 24, 2013 : 7:19 p.m.
Not everyone works the same banker's hours that you do.
Backthetruckup
Fri, May 24, 2013 : 4:27 p.m.
aww mannn
TK2013
Fri, May 24, 2013 : 2:54 p.m.
When a late-night fast food restaurant has to amend its hours to help lessen serious criminal and gang-related activity, we should be taking a long hard look at the real problems facing both the city and township of Ypsilanti. There's nothing positive about this story and the issue of which policing agency has jurisdiction is irrelevant. The real story here is the ever-increasing "in-your-face" criminal element in our community and the unwillingness of our elected officials and the public to address the problem head-on.
shadow wilson
Fri, May 24, 2013 : 3:20 p.m.
I agree.How would you suggest the problem be addressed? One person received a three year prison sentence; something that likely would not happen in Wayne county.
Geoff Larcom
Fri, May 24, 2013 : 2:25 p.m.
This is an impressive story because AA.com took the trouble to note a positive situation that reflects a dramatic turnaround from all the late-night troubles before. Sometimes, a story about a crime or scuffle arises, a place takes a reputational hit, rightly or wrongly, and that's the end of it. In this case the owner took action, and Tom followed up. Fine coverage.
Stupid Hick
Fri, May 24, 2013 : 3:24 p.m.
Agreed. Annarbor.com has been noticeably better recently. Good job.
Chase Ingersoll
Fri, May 24, 2013 : 1:39 p.m.
Tom: Where do you think the trouble makers now go ? It's not like they have been locked up, and unlikely that they have gone Ben Franklin on us (early to bed, early to rise). Chase
Frankyhollywood68
Fri, May 24, 2013 : 1:21 p.m.
I think one of the major problems is the parking lot. If you look at Abe's and Fleetwood diners, they don't have "parking" so going there you'd either have to walk or park sometimes a block or further away...most crackheads don't want to do that.
Matt Cooper
Fri, May 24, 2013 : 2:08 p.m.
Abe's does have parking on the side of the building, less than 150 feet from the door. And the Fleetwood attracts an entirely different clientele than either Abe's or Luca's.
whatsupwithMI
Fri, May 24, 2013 : 1:15 p.m.
Tom is usually good about this, but first paragraph, the address is in township, not city.
John Counts
Fri, May 24, 2013 : 2:18 p.m.
This has been corrected.
Stupid Hick
Fri, May 24, 2013 : 12:43 p.m.
Mr. Gjoka seems to be a really, really nice guy. Despite any problems that have happened, the bottom line is he was running a lawful business, and it's the responsibility of the Ypsilanti Police to enforce law and order.
Stupid Hick
Fri, May 24, 2013 : 3:22 p.m.
Thanks, Katrease and John. Let me ammend my comment to say it's the Washtenaw County Sheriff's responsibility to enforce law and order in their jurisdiction. Are we to understand their approach to fighting crime is to simply cede territory to criminals when the going gets tough?
Katrease Stafford
Fri, May 24, 2013 : 2:25 p.m.
Just want to reiterate what my coworker John said above. Luca's is located within Ypsilanti Township. The business is not within the jurisdiction of the Ypsilanti Police Department. Ypsilanti Township receives its police services through the Washtenaw County Sheriff's Department.
LaMusica
Fri, May 24, 2013 : 1:09 p.m.
Exactly my thoughts. I'm happy he has been cooperative and went the extra step to ensure the staff he had to cut from that shift would still be taken care of. Hopefully this works out for everyone.
tdw
Fri, May 24, 2013 : 10:56 a.m.
Not to nit pick but Ypsi twp doesn't have any police they rely the Washtneaw County Sheriff Dept
tdw
Fri, May 24, 2013 : 6:01 p.m.
Thanks John.I was just trying to be nice about it.I suppose if I would have just insulted A2.com about a error like most people do, I wouldn't have gotten all those thumbs down
John Counts
Fri, May 24, 2013 : 2:17 p.m.
tdw: It's not nit picking. Ypsi Township is covered by the sheriff's office. The story has been changed to reflect this. Thanks.
tdw
Fri, May 24, 2013 : 11:28 a.m.
Cory...you are correct.So I won't nit pick about your nit picking about my nit picking
Cory C
Fri, May 24, 2013 : 11:20 a.m.
Not to nit pick, but you're nit picking, and saying "not to nit pick" doesn't change that.