#activateBOS: Liquor Licensing Conversation from the weeks of 2.8.16 and 2.15.16

These past two weeks have been jammed pack for when it comes liquor licensing conversations.

Last Tuesday, Governor Baker’s House Bill 3906 under went a public hearing. Local entrepreneurs and restaurateurs came out to speak in opposition to the bill in its current state, due to the written exclusion of Boston from the bill.

Testimony was given by: Erin Anderson — local community organizer, Jammal Gathers of Blue Hill Bar and Kitchen, and Lisa Finelli of Xperience Creative.

At the end of Ms. Finelli’s testimony the commission chair interrupted to state the reason Boston was excluded from this bill was because the city already holds local control and jurisdiction over this process.

We are not sure where this is going to go, but even the state seems to be unclear how Boston liquor licenses process works.

More updates on the discussions at the state will be provided in the up and coming weeks.

City Licensing Hearings that took place on 2.10.16 and 2.11.16 yielded the following:

Dirt + Water LLC dba Haley Henry — 45 Province Street Boston 02108 applied for a 7 day all alcohol license on 2.10.16. The group experessed that the establishment is primarily beer and wine focused but realize that not everyone drinks beer and wine, and some people prefer to drink spirits.

The MidTown Park Plaza Neighborhood Association has a meeting scheduled for next month and the association requested a deferment from the board until that meeting takes place.

On 2.11.16, the board rejected Haley Henry’s application with no prejudice based on their remarks about initial intention of it being more of a beer and wine bar rather than full liquor establishment

On 2.10.16 286 Campbrige Street, Inc. dba Antonio’s located at 286 Cambridge Street in Boston 02114 applied for a 7 day all alcohol nonrestricted license. The Mayor’s Office, Councillors Zakim and the State Rep. all stood in favor. There was no opposition. On 2.11.16 the board granted them their request. The group will also be surrendering their current beer and wine license.

On 2.10.16, Schiaffo, Inc. dba Carmelina’s located at 307–309 Hanover Street applied for an 7 day All Alcohol Non-Restricted license. There was tremendous community support as well as that from the Mayor’s office, the areas state Rep and councilor Flaherty. On 2.11.16, board deferred the application due to there being no licenses available at this time.

On 2.10.16, George’s Restaurant and Lounge dba Levi’s Restaurant and Lounge, 323 Washington Street Dorchester applied for a Full Alcohol 2014 Restricted license. Levi’s legal counsel gave reference to the point that Levi’s is the type of local establishment that the 2014 legislation was written. There was tremendous local support as well at from Councilor Presley and the Mayor’s office. On 2.11.16, the board granted Levi’s their request.

On 2.10.16, Scopa LLC dba Scopa located at 319 Hanover Street in Boston 02113 applied for a 7 day Beer, Wine, and Liqueur License. This is the repeat application from Scopa who have been deferred in months past due to unavailability of licenses. On 2.11.16, the board noted that they want to grant this applicant, but had to again defer their request due to no licenses being available at this time.

On 2.10.16 Barbro Enterprise, LLC dba The Retreat applied for a 7 day All Alcohol License at 303 Sumner Street East Boston 02128. The group noted that their current space is going through a rezoning process, and noted that obtaining a liquor license is important in term so both investment in the company and for their balance sheet. On 2.11.16, the board stated that they would like to grant a license but deferred stating, no licenses are available at this time.

Old Business that was pulled on 2.11.16:

El Penol Restaurant located at 54 Benington Street that was deferred on 1.7.16 due to there not being enough licenses available was rejected on 2.11.16 without prejudice due to there still not being any licenses available at this time.

Joy Luck Inc. who on 1.7.16 were deferred due to the request of the applicant in order for them to have more time to finish the community process. There have been no updates provided to the board since their hearing; therefore their application was rejected without prejudice.

Aloft Lounge located at 401D Street requested that the Board reconsider their denial of their recent application for a for All Alcohol license which the board voted on 2.4.16. The board denied their request.

City Licensing Hearings that took place on 2.17.16 and 2.18.16 yielded the following:

On 2.17.16, LDJ Development, LLC located at 150 State Street in Boston applied for a 7 day all alcohol license. The Mayors Office stood in support of their application. On 2.18.16, LDJ was deferred in their request due to the board’s statement of no licenses being available at this time.

On 2.17.16, Crudo North End LLC dba Crudo 78–80 Salem Street applied for a 7 day all alcohol license. On 2.18.16, the board also deferred Crudo’s request due to ‘no licenses being available at this time.’

Old Business that was pulled on 2.18.16 was:

The Same Old Place located at 662 Centre Street in JP & who originally submitted an application for a full 7 day All Alcohol license on 1.13.16 and who, were deferred on 1.14.16 due to ‘no applications being available at (the) time.’ Today, 2.18.16, Same Old Place was rejected without prejudice due to there being no licenses being available at this time.

Asiana Hot Pot & Sushi located at 137 Harvard Ave. in Allston, whose most recent application that was submitted on 1.13.16 for a beer and wine license and who were previously deferred due to no licenses being currently available, were again rejected without prejudice due to there being no new licenses available at this time

Our current final count:

Please Stay Updated and Informed. We will be in touch next week with more clarification and updates on this process once we hear back from the city concerning the confirmation on our count.