A New York Burger King has been hit with a $15 million lawsuit over allegations that a fast-food restaurant was transformed into an “open-air drug bazaar.”
The restaurant, located at 106 Fulton Street in the Financial District, was sued by Kevin Kaufman, a 69-year-old longtime resident and filmmaker, who called the street a “neighborhood in crisis.”
According to the lawsuit obtained by the New York PostKaufman targeted that location and Burger King’s cooperation office, accusing them of violating the state’s private nuisance law.
Anarchy is common on the site with photos of drug users and videos of fights posted online.
Kaufman asked the court to order that the venue “stop terrorizing and transforming Fulton Street” and targeted the restaurant’s franchisee, 66-year-old Lalmir Sultanzada.
“He’s not taking responsibility, he’s putting it on the cops instead of hiring security himself and monitoring his own store,” Kaufman said.
The Burger King at 106 Fulton Street in the Financial District was sued by Kevin Kaufman, a 69-year-old longtime resident and filmmaker, who said the restaurant acted like an “open-air drug bazaar.”
According to the NYPD, since January 1, 2023, 143 calls have been made to 911 regarding the Burger King. Pictured: People gathered outside the fast food restaurant in October
The eight to 10 “professional drug dealers” established their “base of operations” both inside the Burger King and outside the entrance, according to the lawsuit.
The enraged filmmaker added that because of the “silly” and lax bail reform laws in the Big Apple, cops handcuffed those involved, but “they were back within 24 hours.”
Although he disagrees with the system in place, Kaufman said NYPD officers are “the only ones who seem responsive and listening.”
The phone went unanswered when DailyMail.com contacted the restaurant and Burger King corporate headquarters did not immediately comment on the lawsuit.
According to the NYPD, since January 1, 2023, 143 calls have been made to 911 regarding this specific Burger King. The exact nature of these calls remains unclear.
The New York Post reported just this week that there were numerous encounters inside and outside the fast food restaurant.
On Tuesday, the outlet said a group of eight women and men were seen outside the door and “blocking the entrance to the restaurant for hours.”
A man in the group was seen grabbing cash before pocketing it just before quickly handing over something in exchange, the New York Post reported.
Other people were seen openly drinking outside the Burger King, smoking marijuana, holding “meetings” inside while customers ate, and “shadow boxing” .
Another resident who has lived on Fulton Street for 15 years and asked to remain anonymous said, “It’s on the mayor’s corner, his office is right there, and it’s like ‘Dude, clean up your neighborhood.’
Franchisee Lalmir Sultanzada said it was out of his control and it was up to law enforcement to stop
In a video posted to X by Fulton St Coalition on January 4, a fight between two people broke out when one person was forcefully pushed into the street as cars drove by.
Mayor Eric Adams’ office is located a few blocks from the struggling Broadway restaurant.
Another concerned local, who also preferred to remain anonymous, said: “How is this Burger King staying in business and why are they not doing anything about it?
“The people who scare me are the ones that this crowd attracts. They are not mentally safe. . . . There are times of the night when we no longer feel safe walking our dog. It is a problem.’
He added that amid all the people “clearly high on drugs,” about once a month the homeless people hanging around the restaurant engage in “an absolutely terrifying shouting match.”
In a video posted to X by Fulton St Coalition on January 4, a fight between two people broke out when one person was forcefully pushed into the street as cars drove by.
“I completely agree that this city is a mess and Fulton Street in New York now has full gangs taking over the streets,” the post said.
“Open drug dealing and harassment of community members. @BurgerKing harbors the gangs and gets deleted.
Kaufam made clear that a majority of his anger was directed at Sultanzada, a franchisee who also runs other fast food restaurants such as Dunkin’ Donuts and Popeye’s in the city and on Long Island.
In response to the increase in crime at his restaurant, Sultanzada said he was also a victim.
Since 2023, there have been more than 600 NYPD patrols and visits to this neighborhood and the department has called it “an ongoing priority for the First Precinct.”
“They hang around, they throw everything in the stores. On several occasions they hit one of my managers,” he said.
“We have the same problem everywhere: 125th Street, same problem; 166th Street, same problem; go to the Bronx, same problem.
As for responsibility for the widespread crime on Fulton Street, Sultanzada said it was out of his control and it was up to law enforcement to stop.
“They need to find a solution for these bums, not me,” he said.
Since 2023, there have been more than 600 NYPD patrols and visits to this neighborhood and the department has called it “an ongoing priority for the First Precinct.”
According to NYPD data, major crimes in the area, including Fulton Center and Burger King, increased 2.4 percent this year, along with a 14 percent increase in criminal assaults, a 7 percent increase petty theft and a 52 percent increase in burglaries. .