A cease operations order at 7165.

by Walter Fox

The 7165 restaurant, formerly Alma Mater, at 7165 Germantown Ave. in Mt. Airy, has been closed by Philadelphia’s Department of Licenses and Inspections following a shooting outside the restaurant on March 3 in which four people were injured.

The restaurant was cited by L&I for failing to have a special assembly occupancy license, which is required for places with dancing and a lawful occupancy of over 50 people, for fire code violations, and as a public nuisance because of the shooting.

All of the victims of the shooting – three men and a female bartender who attempted to break up a fight that started inside the restaurant at closing time – were reported in stable condition two days after the incident. At press time, police said no arrests had been made in connection with the shooting.

The restaurant was hosting an event sponsored by an online radio station the night the shooting occurred.

Restaurant owner David Fellner said he is working to clear up all of the issues and to reopen the restaurant as soon as possible, but noted that because of the process involved in obtaining the special assembly license it could take until May 1. He said fire code violations will be cleared by installing more fire extinguishers and a range hood, and that public nuisance issues will be addressed by “more careful screening of patrons.”