Click to view the entire meeting or click any video icon below to jump to that section of the meeting.

Pawtucket Board of License Commissioners

March 24, 2021

A regular session of the Pawtucket Board of License Commissioners is held Wednesday, March 24, 2021, at 7:02 p.m., via videoconference on ZOOM during the COVID-19 pandemic, per Governor’s orders up to and including 21-21.

Present – Chairperson Moran, Councilors Amponsah, Araujo, DaRosa, Mercer, Rudd, Schuette, Vasquez and Wildenhain.

Absent – 0.

Chairperson Moran presides.

The reading of the records of March 10, 2020 is dispensed with and the records are APPROVED as prepared by the Clerk, on a roll call vote, as follows:

AYES – President Moran, Councilors Amponsah, Araujo, DaRosa, Mercer, Rudd, Schuette, Vasquez and Wildenhain.

NOES – 0.

*THE FOLLOWING PETITIONS FOR LICENSES ARE APPROVED ON A ROLL CALL VOTE, AS FOLLOWS:

AYES – President Moran, Councilors Amponsah, Araujo, DaRosa, Mercer, Rudd, Schuette, Vasquez and Wildenhain.

NOES – 0.

*PETITION FOR LICENSE:

ENTERTAINMENT –

Petition of The Rhody Hen Café (Luna’s Café LLC), for a license to conduct a Mother’s Day Brunch with Jazz Band at 350 Prospect Street, outdoors, on Sunday, May 9, 2021, from 10:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. LIC#14616

HOLIDAY LICENSES Renewals –

5 Star General Store (Bento Enterprises LLC) 600 Main St. LIC#13571

99 Cents Plus (Providence Discount Store Inc.) 300 Barton St. (Unit #1) LIC#3208

147 Market & Deli (TM Turkmani, Inc.) 147 Prospect St. LIC#11228

Advance Auto Parts #7194 (Advance Stores Company Inc.) 368 Cottage St. LIC#8533

Al Aseel Mini Mart (Al Aseel Mini Mart Inc.) 130 Broad St. LIC#13577

Apex (Apex at Home, LLC) 100 Main St. LIC#3190

Apna Bazar Food Mart (Apna Bazar LLC) 282 East Ave. LIC#11240

**A & S Convenience & Deli (BACH LLC) 251 West Ave. LIC#10167

AutoZone #103747 (AutoZone Parts, Inc.) 262 Barton St. LIC#11790

**Benefit St Convenience Store (Poteau, Renand, Jocelyne) 599 Benefit St. LIC#11721

BK House of Cigars (Choudhry, Muhammad L) 530 Broadway, Unit #4 LIC#5548

Boulevard Cigar (Boulevard Cigar Inc.) 609 Armistice Blvd. LIC#10562

Bravo Supermarket (Marotta Food Corp.) 300 Barton St. LIC#7710

Cabo Verde Fish Market (Da Cruz, Rui Manuel) 268 West Ave. LIC#5775

Caprichos Antioquenos Bakery (Caprichos Antioquenos Bakery Inc.) 173 Lonsdale Ave. LIC#4761

Central Mart & Deli (Central Mart & Deli, Inc.) 655 Central Ave. LIC#9182

Cod N Olive Market (Bacalao Enterprises LLC) 450 Prospect St. LIC#14091

Cumberland Farms #1265 (Cumberland Farms, Inc.) 193 Division St. LIC#4830

CVS/Pharmacy #2234 (Rhode Island CVS Pharmacy, LLC) 425 East Ave. LIC#3261

CVS Pharmacy #1042 (Rhode Island CVS Pharmacy, LLC) 835 Newport Ave. LIC#3194

CVS Pharmacy #670 (Rhode Island CVS Pharmacy, LLC) 601 Smithfield Ave. LIC#3195

Darlington Market (Darlington Market Inc.) 614 Central Ave. LIC#3216

Dick's Sport & Hobby Shop (Byers, Richard) 460 Smithfield Ave. LIC#3219

Dollar General Store #19285 (Dolgen Rhode Island, LLC) 295 Armistice Blvd. LIC#12800

Eblens Clothing & Footwear (Ebl LLC) 295 Armistice Blvd. LIC#3246

E & P Colombian Girdles (Pacheco, Eufrosina) 148 Broad St. LIC#11783

Fuel “N” Go (F & Z LLC) 168 Lonsdale Ave. LIC#8480

Gold Stars Gift Store (Gold Stars Gift Store, Inc.) 484 Lonsdale Ave. LIC#5183

Gulf Express (F & Z LLC) 711 East Ave. LIC#5103

Harss Express (V & S Farm Inc.) 694 Broadway, LIC#4859

Jose & Carmelo Main Street Market (Jose & Carmelo Main Street Market Inc.) 919 Main St. LIC#3178

LeSoleil (Neves, Maria M.) 547 Armistice Blvd. LIC#3209

Ligafrica Music (Pina, Jack B.) 180 Mineral Spring Ave. LIC#3212

Li'l General Store #23 (Munschy, Kenneth C.) 556 Central Ave. LIC#3226

Lorraine Fabrics (Lorraine Fabrics Inc.) 593 Mineral Spring Ave. LIC#3182

McCoy Market (McCoy Market Inc.) 171 South Bend St. LIC#4864

Monro Muffler (Monro Muffler Brake Inc.) 1427 Newport Ave. LIC#5113

M & R Convenience Store (M & R Convenience Inc.) 191 Pawtucket Ave. LIC#7931

Newport Express (Newport Avenue Food & Fuel, Inc.) 54 Newport Ave. LIC#10989

Ocean State Job Lot #122 (Ocean State Job Lot of RI2013, LLC) 50 Ann Mary St. LIC#10578

P & E African Market (Divine Grace LLC) 855 Newport Ave. LIC#13112

Pawtucket Fish Market (Flor Di Brava Inc.) 593 Weeden St. LIC#5492

Pawtucket Food Mart (Le, Van & Chu, Bao) 755 Mineral Spring Ave. LIC#4860
Precision Harley Davidson (Precision Harley-Davidson, Inc.) 269 Armistice Blvd. LIC#4832

Price Rite (PRRC, Inc.) 465 Lonsdale Ave. LIC#3282

Prospect Mini Market (Prospect Minimarket Inc.) 620 Prospect St. LIC#3185

Q-Mart (A & P LLC) 72 Exchange St. LIC#11677

Rose Bud Florist (Rose Bud Florist, Inc.) 350 Benefit St. LIC#11231

**Roukoz Investment (U Save Gas Inc.) 469 Benefit St. LIC#3264

Royal Fried Chicken (RB Fast Food Inc.) 270 Dexter St. LIC#8590

Saad Food Mart (Saad Food Mart Inc.) 1414 Newport Ave. LIC#4847

Sam’s Food Stores (SNK Inc.) 151 Benefit St. LIC#5203

Save-A-Lot #813/4979 (Moran Foods LLC.) 295 Armistice Blvd. LIC#5046

Save-A-Lot Food Stores, #803/5897 (Moran Foods LLC.) 477 Mineral Spring Ave. LIC#3266

Sayfs Convenience and Smoke Shop (Sayfs Enterprises, Inc.) 1531 Newport Ave. LIC#13644

Silver Mart (Silver Mart Inc.) 170 Cottage St. LIC#3200

Simpson's Pharmacy (Simpson's Pharmacy Inc.) 10 Newport Ave. LIC#4778

Speedway #02832 (Speedway LLC) 250 Mineral Spring Ave. LIC#3207

Stillwater Books (Stillwater River Publications, LLC) 171 Main St. LIC#12908

Super Stop & Shop #710 (Stop & Shop Supermarket Company LLC.) 380 Cottage St. LIC#3243

**U-Haul Center of Pawtucket (U-Haul Co. of Rhode Island) 2 Lonsdale Ave. LIC#3265

Walgreen’s #03468 (Walgreen Eastern Co. Inc.) 100 Broad St. LIC#3239

Walgreen's, #13987 (Walgreen Eastern Co. Inc.) 385 Cottage St. LIC#7604

West Mart Convenience & Smoke Shop (Little Red LLC) 248 West Ave. LIC#12361

Zaccagnini’s Pastry Shoppe (Wayland Bakery Inc.) 546 Smithfield Ave. LIC#14401

VICTUALLING HOUSE First Class New –

Yayyoo Nutrition (Berdugo, Yeison) 154 Smithfield Avenue, LIC#14619

THE FOLLOWING BOND IS APPROVED, SURETY NAMED IS ACCEPTED:

PRIVATE DETECTIVE –

Thomas J. Anter, Surety – Western Surety Company

THE CHAIR RECOGNIZES COUNCILOR MERCER.

Upon motion made by Councilor Mercer, seconded by Councilor Wildenhain, the agenda is amended to include the following claims, on a unanimous voice vote:

Communication from McLaughlin & Moran, Inc., to the Pawtucket Board of License Commissioners, objecting to the transfer of Class A Liquor License of Countryside Liquors, from Caps N Corks Spirits LLC to Gayatri Corporation, 553 Armistice Boulevard, in the total amount of $6,904.89.

Communication from Gregory A. Mancini, Esq., Sinapi Law Associates, to the Pawtucket Board of License Commissioners, objecting to the transfer of Class A Liquor License of Countryside Liquors, from Caps N Corks Spirits LLC to Gayatri Corporation, 553 Armistice Boulevard, in the total amount of $19.537.80, on behalf of RI Distributing.

Upon motion made by Councilor Mercer, seconded by Councilor Wildenhain, the following claims are READ AND ORDERED FILED on a roll call vote, as follows:

AYES – President Moran, Councilors Amponsah, Araujo, DaRosa, Mercer, Rudd, Schuette, Vasquez and Wildenhain.

NOES – 0.

A PUBLIC HEARING ON THE FOLLOWING APPLICATION FOR A LICENSE, WHICH WAS ADVERTISED FOR A HEARING AT THIS TIME, IS TAKEN UP (The public was allowed to participate electronically):

CLASS A Transfer -

Countryside Liquors (Gayatri Corporation) 553 Armistice Boulevard, LIC#14607

(transfer from Countryside Liquors (Caps N Corks Spirits LLC))

Speaking in favor is Ricky Patel, 59 Dunham Street, Attleboro, MA, applicant.

Mr. Patel is aware of the claims.

Mr. Patel states that he has been in the retail and customer service businesses.

There are no other speakers.

The hearing is closed.

THE CHAIR RECOGNIZES COUNCILOR MERCER.

Upon motion made by Councilor Mercer, seconded by Councilor Araujo, the following license is APPROVED, on a roll call vote, as follows:

AYES – President Moran, Councilors Amponsah, Araujo, DaRosa, Mercer, Rudd, Schuette, Vasquez and Wildenhain.

NOES – 0.

CLASS A Transfer -

Countryside Liquors (Gayatri Corporation) 553 Armistice Boulevard, LIC#14607

(transfer from Countryside Liquors (Caps N Corks Spirits LLC))

Communication from Paul J. Pisano, Esq., to the Pawtucket Board of License Commissioners, objecting to the transfer of Class A Liquor License of Fernandez Brothers Liquors (Fernandez Brothers Liquors Corp) to Liquor Palace (Liquor Palace Inc.) 155 Broad Street, in the total amount of $9,591.85 for MS Walker RI. is READ AND ORDERED FILED on a roll call vote, as follows:

AYES – President Moran, Councilors Amponsah, Araujo, DaRosa, Mercer, Rudd, Schuette, Vasquez and Wildenhain.

NOES – 0.

THE CHAIR RECOGNIZES COUNCILOR MERCER.

Upon motion made by Councilor Mercer, seconded by Councilor Rudd, the agenda is amended to include the following claims, on a unanimous voice vote:

Communication from McLaughlin & Moran, Inc., to the Pawtucket Board of License Commissioners, objecting to the transfer of Class A Liquor License of Fernandez Brothers Liquors (Fernandez Brothers Liquors Corp) to Liquor Palace (Liquor Palace Inc.), 155 Broad Street, in the total amount of $16,821.70

Communication from Gregory A. Mancini, Esq., Sinapi Law Associates, to the Pawtucket Board of License Commissioners, objecting to the transfer of Class A Liquor License of Fernandez Brothers Liquors (Fernandez Brothers Liquors Corp) to Liquor Palace (Liquor Palace Inc.), 155 Broad Street, in the total amount of $90,374.52 for Rhode Island Distributing and $37,765.93 for Horizon Beverage.

Upon motion made by Councilor Mercer, seconded by Councilor Rudd, the following claims are READ AND ORDERED FILED on a roll call vote, as follows:

AYES – President Moran, Councilors Amponsah, Araujo, DaRosa, Mercer, Rudd, Schuette, Vasquez and Wildenhain.

NOES – 0.

A PUBLIC HEARING ON THE FOLLOWING APPLICATION FOR A LICENSE, WHICH WAS ADVERTISED FOR A HEARING AT THIS TIME, IS TAKEN UP (The public was allowed to participate electronically):

CLASS A Transfer -

Liquor Palace (Liquor Palace Inc.) 155 Broad Street, LIC#14615

(transfer from Fernandez Brothers Liquors (Fernandez Brothers Liquors Corp.)

Speaking in favor is Attorney Nick Hemond, 16 Pleasant Valley Parkway, representing the applicant.

Also present are Hevan Patel, 28 Jill’s Way, Tewkesbury, MA, and Bipin Patel, 4 East Central Avenue, Wareham, MA, applicants.

Attorney Hemond states that the owners are communicating with the seller regarding the claims.

Mr. Hevan Patel states that he worked at a liquor store for 10 years. Their parents own two stores at which they worked

He states that everything would remain the same.

There are no other speakers.

The hearing is closed.

THE CHAIR RECOGNIZES COUNCILOR RUDD.

Upon motion made by Councilor Rudd, seconded by Councilor Wildenhain, the following license is APPROVED, on a roll call vote, as follows:

AYES – President Moran, Councilors Amponsah, Araujo, DaRosa, Mercer, Rudd, Schuette, Vasquez and Wildenhain.

NOES – 0.

CLASS A Transfer -

Liquor Palace (Liquor Palace Inc.) 155 Broad Street, LIC#14615

(transfer from Fernandez Brothers Liquors (Fernandez Brothers Liquors Corp.)

A FORMAL HEARING ON THE FOLLOWING LICENSE IS TAKEN UP:

CLASS B (VICTUALLER) -

Mangos (Princess Investments LLC) 17 Exchange Street, LIC#14600® (ent)

Representing the City of Pawtucket is Frank J. Milos, Jr., Esq., City Solicitor.

Also present is Police Sargent David Medeiros, who is sworn in by City Clerk Richard Goldstein

Sargent Medeiros states that he has been employed as a police officer for 19 years.

Sargent Medeiros states that on February 7, 2021, he was working a patrol sergeant. From 1-1:30 a.m. several officers were in Downtown to move people out of downtown when the bars closed. At 2:00 a.m. he noticed several cars in front of Mangos. He and another officer knocked on the door 3-4 times. When they were let in, they noticed that there were 30-40 people inside, many drinking. Bartenders were not wearing masks. There were also three or four people downstairs, as well.

Mr. Soto said that he was trying to make his customers happy.

Sargent Medeiros said everyone would have to leave.

Representing Mangos at the hearing is Attorney William Lynch.

Mr. Lynch states that this was not the best night for anyone there.

Mr. Lynch states that he spoke with the applicants. They were apologetic; this was not a regular occurrence; and this will not be repeated.

There are no other speakers.

The hearing is close.

The Board takes no action on this matter.

THE CHAIR RECOGNIZES COUNCILOR RUDD.

With majority consent of the Council, the following motion made by Councilor Rudd, seconded by Councilor Wildenhain, is PASSED on a on a roll call vote, as follows:

AYES – President Moran, Councilors Amponsah, Araujo, DaRosa, Mercer, Rudd, Schuette, Vasquez and Wildenhain.

NOES – 0.

The Clerk is instructed to send a communication to Captain David Holden, requesting that the police do random checks around closing time at Mangos, especially on Fridays and Saturdays, to ensure that the owners and managers of the restaurant are complying with state and local laws regarding the closing time for liquor establishment in Pawtucket

COUNCILOR RUDD LEAVES AT 7:36 P.M.

THE FOLLOWING PETITON FOR LICENSE WAS POSTPONED AT THE MEETING HELD MARCH 10, 2021, AND IS AGAIN TAKEN UP AND IS APPROVED ON A ROLL CALL VOTE, AS FOLLOWS:

AYES – President Moran, Councilors Amponsah, Araujo, DaRosa, Mercer, Schuette, Vasquez and Wildenhain.

NOES – 0.

CLASS B (VICTUALLER) Transfer 51% of stockholders –

Mangos (Princess Investments LLC) 17 Exchange Street, LIC#14600® (ent)

THE FOLLOWING PETITON FOR LICENSE WAS POSTPONED AT THE MEETING HELD MARCH 10, 2021, AND IS AGAIN TAKEN UP AND IS APPROVED ON A ROLL ALL VOTE AS FOLLOWS:

AYES – President Moran, Councilors Amponsah, Araujo, DaRosa, Mercer, Schuette, Vasquez and Wildenhain.

NOES – 0.

VICTUALLING HOUSE 1^st Class Transfer -

Mangos (Princess Investments LLC) 17 Exchange Street, LIC#14599

Upon motion made by Councilor Mercer, seconded by Councilor DaRosa, the meeting is adjourned at 7:37 p.m.