Pawtucket Board of License Commissioners
May 5, 2010
A regular session of the Pawtucket Board of License Commissioners is held Wednesday, May 5, 2010, at 7:10 p.m., in the City Council Chambers, City Hall, 137 Roosevelt Avenue, Pawtucket, RI.
Present – Chairperson Kinch, Councilors Barry, Barros, Chadwick, Hodge, Moran, Tetreault and Vitali.
Absent – 0.
Chairperson Kinch presides.
The reading of the records of April 21, 2010 is dispensed with and the records are approved as prepared by the Clerk.
Communication from Heather Engelhardt, Credit & Collections Manager, Thomsen Foodservice, to Pawtucket Board of License Commissioners, objecting to the transfer of Class B (Victualer) Liquor License of The Call Sports Pub LLC d/b/a The Call Sports Pub to J & L Management LLC d/b/a Grille 47, 47 Mendon Avenue, in the total amount of $2,313.47, is READ AND ORDERED FILED.
Communication from Ann Carter, Account Executive, Clear Channel, to Pawtucket Board of License Commissioners, objecting to the transfer of Class B (Victualer) Liquor License of The Call Sports Pub LLC d/b/a The Call Sports Pub to J & L Management LLC d/b/a Grille 47, 47 Mendon Avenue, in the total amount of $17,356.00, is READ AND ORDERED FILED.
Communication from McLaughlin & Moran, Inc., to Pawtucket Board of License Commissioners, objecting to the transfer of Class B (Victualer) Liquor License of The Call Sports Pub LLC d/b/a The Call Sports Pub to J & L Management LLC d/b/a Grille 47, 47 Mendon Avenue, in the total amount of $2,412.55, is READ AND ORDERED FILED.
THE CHAIR RECOGNIZES COUNCILOR VITALI.
Communication from Paul J. Pisano, Esq., to the Pawtucket Board of License Commissioners, objecting to the transfer of Class B (Victualer) Liquor License of The Call Sports Pub LLC d/b/a The Call Sports Pub to J & L Management LLC d/b/a Grille 47, 47 Mendon Avenue, in the total amount of $4,806.35.
Upon motion made by Councilor Vitali, seconded by Councilor Moran, the following communication is READ AND ORDERED FILED:
Communication from Paul J. Pisano, Esq., to the Pawtucket Board of License Commissioners, objecting to the transfer of Class B (Victualer) Liquor License of The Call Sports Pub LLC d/b/a The Call Sports Pub to J & L Management LLC d/b/a Grille 47, 47 Mendon Avenue, in the total amount of $4,806.35.
A PUBLIC HEARING ON THE FOLLOWING APPLICATION FOR LICENSE, WHICH WAS ADVERTISED FOR A HEARING AT THIS TIME, IS TAKEN UP:
CLASS B (Victualer) – Transfer
J & L Management LLC d/b/a Grille 47, (transfer from The Call Sports Pub LLC d/b/a The Call Sports Pub) 47 Mendon Avenue, LIC#5634
Representing the applicant is David Graham, Esq., 1804 Mineral Spring Avenue, North Providence, RI.
Also present is applicant Alfredo Lopes, 155 Webster Street, Pawtucket, RI.
Mr. Graham states that Mr. Lopes is the sole member of the J & L Management LLC.
Mr. Lopes states that he will run this business as a restaurant and not as a sports pub. He has a number of years experience in restaurants. He began as a dishwasher at Logan Airport and has owned three restaurants and has worked in several others.
He hopes to have 30-40 employees and hopes to improve banquet services. All employees will be TIPS certified.
His hours will be until 1:00 a.m. on Friday and Saturday and 12:30 a.m. on Tuesday through Thursday. On Sundays they plan to close a little earlier.
Mr. Lopes states that he has run the business over the past five weeks and he has paid all of his bills and some of the other bills. None of the current owners are on the payroll. They were involved with the establishment until about two weeks ago. Mr. Pate has allowed Mr. Lopes to run this establishment. The property has been purchased pending the approval of this transfer. He has had no problems at the establishment since he has run it. He has insurance for the restaurant. He will give Major Moreau his phone number in case there are problems at the establishment.
THE CHAIR RECOGNIZES COUNCILOR VITALI.
Upon motion made by Councilor Vitali, seconded by Councilor Barry, the Public Hearing on the following license is RECESSED UNTIL MAY 19, 2010:
CLASS B (Victualer) – Transfer
J & L Management LLC d/b/a Grille 47, (transfer from The Call Sports Pub LLC d/b/a The Call Sports Pub) 47 Mendon Avenue, LIC#5634
A PUBLIC HEARING ON THE FOLLOWING APPLICATION FOR LICENSE, WHICH WAS ADVERTISED FOR A HEARING AT THIS TIME, IS TAKEN UP:
CLASS B (Victualer) – New
The Met RI, LLC d/b/a The Met Café, (previously The Blackstone At Hope LLC d/b/a Blackstone) 1005 Main Street, Unit 1112
Representing the applicant is Michael Horan, Esq., 393 Armistice Boulevard, Pawtucket, RI.
Also present are applicants Richard Lupo, 36 Parkside Drive, Providence, RI and John Reich, 26 Harvard Court, Cranston, RI.
Mr. Horan states that there are four principals of the business including Kathrine Gavin and Sarah Lupo.
Mr. Reich states that he has been with Lupos for a number of years and schedules concerts in RI.
From 11:00 a.m. until 9:00 p.m. there will be a full menu and there will be a different menu after 9:00 p.m. They do plan on having concerts there. There are new bathrooms, two new bars, a new dressing area, and a new kitchen. They have 160 shared parking spaces behind the club. There are 40 spaces in the front lot, 10 are theirs and 30 are shared. There are also 25 spaces on Dudley Street. They will use flaggers and valet parking.
Mr. Lupo states that he has been in business for 35 years and he owns Lupos and several other establishments. The entertainment to be provided will be Alternative Rock, R & B, Blues, etc… They will try to have some entertainment every night. They will sell food throughout the day. They expect about 100 people on off nights and they hope to have at least 300 people at least two nights per week. There will about 30 employees. They have a good relationship with the police in Providence. They will have detail officers here in Pawtucket. They will work closely with the Hope Artiste Village and they hope to be open by late August.
The next speaker is Major Bruce Moreau, Pawtucket Police Department.
Major Moreau is concerned if Pawtucket has enough officers in case there is a problem with up to 600 patrons. He has spoken with the Providence Police and there have been no problems. He is concerned with the under 21 crowds and about parking. He states that 300-400 people are manageable.
Mr. Lupo states that they expect a capacity of 600 people.
The next speaker is Michael Gazdacko, representing Hope Artiste Village, 1005 Main Street, Pawtucket, RI.
Mr. Gazdacko states that he fully supports the Met Café. He believes the license holders will be responsible and they will try different parking options.
Councilor Barros asks about putting a door in the back so that people don’t have to walk on the streets to go from the club to the lot.
Mr. Reich states that there will be plenty of security and there haven’t been problems at Lupos. He will have people cleaning up the area.
The next speaker is David Bottai, 164 Blueberry Lane, Charlestown, RI.
Mr. Bottai states that Richard Lupo is the best owner he has ever worked for. Rich and Jack are very honest people.
The next speaker is Michael Lozano, co-owner of the Grant Building, 250 Main Street, Pawtucket, RI.
Mr. Lozano enthusiastically supports the Met Café and is really happy about this coming to Pawtucket. This will bring people to Pawtucket. He is a member of the Pawtucket Foundation and the Pawtucket Arts Festival Committee.
The next speaker is John Maguire, 75 South Union Street, Pawtucket, RI.
Mr. Maguire is a local musician. Jack and Rich gave him his first chance. This will really be great for Pawtucket. There are not enough places to play in the Providence area. Jack and Rich are great to work with.
There are no other speakers.
The Hearing is closed.
THE CHAIR RECOGNIZES COUNCILOR BARROS.
Upon motion made by Councilor Barros, seconded by Councilor Moran, the following petition for license is APPROVED, on a unanimous voice vote:
CLASS B (Victualer) – New
The Met RI, LLC d/b/a The Met Café, (previously The Blackstone At Hope LLC d/b/a Blackstone) 1005 Main Street, Unit 1112
Communication from Attorney Michael F. Horan, to RI Department of Business Regulation Liquor Control Division. (Habanos Lounge Inc., d/b/a Habanos Cigar Lounge, 424 Benefit Street – Appeal of Board Decision) is READ AND ORDERED FILED.
THE FOLLOWING PETITION WAS LAID ON THE TABLE AT THE MEETING HELD APRIL 21, 2010, AND IS WITHDRAWN AT THE REQUEST OF THE APPLICANT:
Class F (Beer & Wine)
Petition of Education Center of Arts and Sciences Theater Inc., to sell beer and wine at a “Theatrical Play” – Fundraiser, at the Pawtucket Armory, 172 Exchange Street, on Saturday, May 8, 2010, from 7:00 p.m. until 10:00 p.m. LIC#5629
THE CHAIR RECOGNIZES COUNCILOR CHADWICK.
With majority consent of the Board, the following motion made by Councilor Chadwick, seconded by Councilor Hodge, is PASSED on a unanimous voice vote:
The Clerk is instructed to send a FORMAL HEARING SUMMONS to the following:
Class D –
Howard‑Rogers Holding Corporation Inc., 25 McCallum Ave. LIC#4037
1. Police Detail Officer shall be required at all events.
2. Door leading to the parking lot shall remain closed at all times when there is entertainment.
3. The parking lot shall be kept clean.
4. There shall be someone stationed in the parking lot to prevent loitering in the lot and in the surrounding area.
For the following reason:
1. Failure to maintain control of patrons and/or endangering the health, safety and welfare of the general public and/or permitting the place where you are licensed to sell beverages to become disorderly as to annoy and disturb the persons inhabiting or residing in the neighborhood and/or permitting any of the laws of this state to be violated in the neighborhood, specifically, on or about April 19-20, 2010 (See attached Police Narrative Report) and, generally, on other unascertained dates and times (See Minutes of the City Council’s May 5, 2010 Pre-Council - Public Input Period).
Upon motion made by Councilor Hodge, seconded by Councilor Chadwick, the meeting is adjourned at 8:29 p.m.