The cease and desist order at the Watusi Lounge at 4600 Walnut St.

Editor’s Note: We are aware that the sign on the establishment at 46th and Walnut says “Watutsi.” However, the business in all its public dealings (its filings, licenses and even its Facebook page) refers to itself as “Watusi,” so that’s what we have always gone with. Both words, of course, refer to the Tutsi people of East Africa.

The Watusi Lounge at 46th and Walnut has been closed for not having a proper food license, according to the city’s Office of Licenses and Inspections.

A cease operations notice was put on the door of the bar and night club on Sept. 6. The Watusi Lounge has received complaints from neighbors for late-night noise including alcohol-fueled fights. Police are still investigating a triple shooting earlier on Aug. 30 allegedly connected to the bar.

The lounge will not be permitted to open until a food license is issued. The notice is the latest in a list of violations the city has issued to Watusi.

In other Watusi-related news, the Watusi II at 45th and Locust, which has also received complaints, got a new paint job over the last few days. Local businessman Noel Karasanyi runs the Watusi Lounge, Watusi II and the Third World Lounge at 49th and Baltimore. The Watusi II was the subject of a community meeting in August, where some community members complained about noise and open drug use. But other members of the community have defended the businesses, saying they are among the few black-owned establishments remaining in the neighborhood.

Three people were shot outside of The Watusi bar at 46th and Walnut early Saturday morning.

NBCPhiladelphia is reporting that two women and a man were shot during an argument that began inside the bar at about 1 a.m. Two women, ages 21 and 24, were grazed by bullets. A 24-year-old man is in critical condition after being shot in the abdomen. A neighbor who lives near the lounge, which has seen gun violence in the past, said that a total of six shots were fired.

“This is the second time this has happened in the past six months,” the neighbor, who asked not to be named, said. “I can’t believe that somewhere where people are bringing concealed loaded weapons is allowed to stay open and face no scrutiny.”

Shots were fired at about the same time on April 26. No one was injured in that incident.

Neighbors have complained about noise and violence at Watusi Lounge and Watusi II at 45th and Locust in the past. The Watusi II was the subject of a community meeting last week to address the dozens of community complaints. The University City Review reported that piles of evidence were presented about everything from drug use at the bar to it serving patrons well after the 2 a.m. closing time.

Despite the complaints and tens of thousands of dollars in back taxes, owner Noel Karasanyi has been able to keep both establishments open.