Reef Shack, a local restaurant on Reef Road that opened in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic, is facing growing attention from local and state law enforcement officers amid overcrowding and underage drinking concerns.

The business, a frequented spot for university sophomores, saw its owner, Jason Lesizza, arrested last Saturday by the Fairfield Police Department on charges of reckless endangerment in the second degree after officers responded to a complaint of overcrowding.

“Upon arrival, the Fairfield Fire Department counted at least 314 patrons inside the business as they left, despite the certificate of occupancy allowing for a maximum of 49 patrons,” Sergeant Jenna Wellington said in a statement to The Fairfield Mirror. Officials determined that the number of patrons created a “significant life safety hazard” for those inside the establishment.

Lesizza’s arrest was documented by a Fairfield student who attended Reef Shack over the weekend in a since-deleted post on Fizz. The 13-second clip, which The Mirror obtained, shows a police officer walking a handcuffed male to a patrol car.

He was released after posting a $5,000 bond and is scheduled to appear next Tuesday in the Bridgeport Superior Court.

However, this is not the only active case against Lesizza.

According to court records, the business owner was already facing a reckless endangerment charge in the second degree related to a similar event on Nov. 15 in which the police department responded to overcrowding complaints.

At that time, the officers observed “severe overcrowding inside the business, obstructed exits, and congestion in the surrounding parking lot.” From this incident, he was released on a $2,500 non-surety bond and is scheduled to appear in court this Friday for a plea hearing.

The Mirror made efforts to contact Lesizza via phone for a statement on the recent police activity. While the call was answered by Lesizza, he declined to provide a comment.

A week after Lesizza’s arrest, Fairfield Police and State Liquor Enforcement officers appeared at a private event hosted by Fairfield students. The bust, documented by a Mirror reporter in attendance, occurred on Nov. 21 at around 10:30 p.m., when several police officers arrived at the establishment and asked for identification.

In a statement to The Mirror, the Connecticut Department of Consumer Protection, which oversees liquor licenses, confirmed that its Liquor Control Division has “conducted several operations” due to complaints of sales to minors, loitering and complaints from the local police department.

As a result of the investigation, Lesizza and his corporation, SHAVED LLC., agreed to divest from all alcoholic beverages by Dec. 17, 2025, and are not permitted to apply for a liquor permit until the start of 2029.

Still, the business is operating without an alcohol license but is encouraging patrons to “BYOB”, an abbreviation that stands for “bring your own beverage.”

On Dec. 30, Reef’s Instagram page declared, “We are officially a BYOB restaurant- no college fees, just great vibes and ambiance.”