Pawtucket Board of License Commissioners
January 5, 2011
A regular session of the Pawtucket Board of License Commissioners is held Wednesday, January 5, 2011, at 6:55 p.m., in the City Council Chambers, City Hall, 137 Roosevelt Avenue, Pawtucket, RI.
Present – Chairperson Moran, Councilors Barros, Barry, Chadwick, Hodge, O’Neill, Tetreault, Vitali and Wildenhain.
Chairperson Moran presides.
The reading of the records of December 8, 2010 is dispensed with and the records are approved as prepared by the Clerk.
A PUBLIC HEARING ON THE FOLLOWING APPLICATION FOR LICENSE, WHICH WAS ADVERTISED FOR A HEARING AT THIS TIME, IS TAKEN UP:
CLASS BV (Victualer) New
Kota Associates Inc., d/b/a John’s Blackstone, 477 Main St. LIC#6028®
Speaking in favor of the petition is Attorney George Lough, 469 Centerville Road, Warwick, RI, representing the applicant.
Mr. Lough states that the location of the business is 477 Main Street and that the applicant has a lease for this space.
Speaking in favor of the petition is John Lefrancoise, applicant, 27 Sumner Avenue, Central Falls, RI.
Mr. Lefrancoise states that he will have 24 employees. He will begin with twelve and will add twelve more in spring.
He will primarily do functions; he has a segregated room for this purpose.
His occupancy estimate is about 400. Usually, there will be about 100 people during the week and up to 325 people on weekends, including functions.
He will use several available lots for parking. There will be security at the door to check ID’s.
He will have live music, but less often than at his last Blackstone restaurant. He will have more food and functions.
Mr. Lefrancoise states that he met with Major Moreau and he admits that the major is not too happy with a new nightclub. Mr. Lefrancoise stresses that he does not consider this new establishment to be a nightclub.
He also states that he reached out to the nearby housing complexes.
He states that he has never had a noise complaint at any of his past locations.
He may want to have a small fire pit in the future. He will come back to the board to request a permit when the time comes.
The hours will be from noon to closing, which will be before 1:00 a.m. during the week. He wants to do deliveries on Fridays from 11:00 am to 1:00 am
Speaking in favor is Ron Werks, 461 Main Street, Pawtucket, RI, property owner.
Mr. Werks hopes to create synergy and more vibrancy in Pawtucket. He notes that he is a member of the Pawtucket Foundation and that he develops mills all over the country. He tries to keep a good mix of daytime and nighttime activity in his developments. He wants to have restaurants that people can walk to.
There are no other speakers.
The Hearing is closed.
THE CHAIR RECOGNIZES COUNCILOR CHADWICK.
Upon motion made by Councilor Chadwick, seconded by Councilors Wildenhain and Barry, the following petition for license is APPROVED, on a unanimous voice vote:
CLASS BV (Victualer) New
Kota Associates Inc., d/b/a John’s Blackstone, 477 Main St. LIC#6028®
Consent Order for the transfer of Shree Balaji Corporation to LIM LLC is READ AND ORDERED FILED.
THE FOLLOWING PETITION WAS LAID ON THE TABLE AT THE MEETING HELD DECEMBER 8, 2010 AND IS AGAIN TAKEN UP:
CLASS A – Transfer
Lim LLC d/b/a Murphy’s Liquors (transfer from Shree Balaji Corp d/b/a Murphy’s Liquor, BY RECEIVER) 290 Pawtucket Avenue, Pawtucket, RI
Speaking in favor of the petition is Attorney Joseph Casale, 438 East Main Road, Middletown, RI, representing the property owner.
Also present is Ratana Hoan, 21 Pherps Road, Middletown, RI., and Titdaranet Lim, applicant, 21 Pherps Road, Middletown, RI.
Mr. Casale states that Ratana Hoan is the President of Hoan, Inc., which is buying the property.
He states that Mr. Hoan is an American citizen. He owns a liquor store in Newport.
He states that Ms. Lim is Mr. Hoan’s wife. She works at Hoan’s liquor store and there are no problems at that store. Also, Lim’s brother works there.
Ms. Lim wants her own liquor store.
Hoan Inc. is buying the building at 290 Pawtucket Avenue, which will contain the store and four apartments. He will bring the entire building up to code.
Hoan, Inc. has an agreement with Lim LLC for the store.
Mr. Casale states that Ms. Lim and her brother will work there.
They are TIPS certified.
Councilor Barry is concerned because the store is close to Shea High School. He wants to be sure that Ms. Lim understands the importance of not serving alcohol to minors.
Attorney Casale states that she takes her responsibility very seriously and is very careful in the Newport liquor store where they card everyone.
Speaking in favor of the petition is Richard Gemma, 56 Pine Street, Providence, RI., the Receiver appointed by the court.
Mr. Gemma asks for the support on this application on behalf of the Court.
There are no other speakers.
The Hearing is closed.
THE CHAIR RECOGNIZES COUNCILOR BARRY.
Upon motion made by Councilor Barry, seconded by Councilor Wildenhain, the following petition for license is APPROVED, on a unanimous voice vote:
CLASS A – Transfer
Lim LLC d/b/a Murphy’s Liquors (transfer from Shree Balaji Corp d/b/a Murphy’s Liquor, BY RECEIVER) 290 Pawtucket Avenue, Pawtucket, RI
Petition from Attorney Michael E. Sendley, McKinnon & Harwood, LLC, to the RI Department of Business Regulation, Liquor Control Division, appealing the December 8, 2010 decision of the Pawtucket Board of License Commissioners to deny the transfer of location of the Class A liquor license of PLW-MA Inc., d/b/a Blackstone Wine & Spirits, from 1179 Central Avenue, Pawtucket, RI to 275 Newport Avenue, Pawtucket, RI., is READ AND ORDERED FILED.
Upon motion made by Councilor Hodge, seconded by Councilor Vitali, the meeting is adjourned at 7:30 p.m.