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Only in the Back Bay: Neighborhood group opposes new restaurant because members don't trust a clothing store
By adamg on Wed, 01/27/2010 - 4:28pm
Just a ruse?: The giant trailer outside just for show, too?
The Boston Licensing Board meets tomorrow to consider a request by the owner of a popular Dorchester bar to open a new restaurant on Mass. Ave. in the Back Bay.
At a hearing today, several nearby residents and one merchant spoke enthusiastically about Brian Piccini's planned Deux Ave. restaurant in a long vacant storefront at 61 Mass. Ave. Josh Dawson of Marlborough Street said he was "blown away" by Piccini's professionalism at an open house he held to introduce the proposed Deux Ave. restaurant to the neighborhood. A Dorchester real-estate agent attended to talk about how Piccini's dBar helped revitalize an entire stretch of Dorchester Avenue.
But the Neighborhood Association of the Bay Back rose as one (specifically member James Hill), to oppose Piccini's request for a liquor license.
It's not that the group has anything against Piccini, Hill said, but the group remains adamantly opposed to increasing the number of liquor licenses in the Back Bay. Piccini's lawyer, Dennis Quilty, said the number of licenses would remain the same because Louis Boston (yes, the clothing store), which has a liquor license (for a small restaurant inside the shop), is moving to the South Boston Waterfront and recently told the board it wanted to transfer its license there.
Hill, however, said he didn't believe that: If said he owned a liquor license in the Back Bay - which can go for $400,000 - he wouldn't transfer it, he'd sell it. Therefore, Louis of Boston is probably going to do the same thing, and the group won't believe it until it sees it, he said, adding it's not like the neighborhood really needs another place that sells liquor.
"It's not hard to get a drink in the Back Bay," he said.
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Comments
First of all....why does a
First of all....why does a clothing store have a liquor license?
Second of all if it isn't hard to get a drink in the back bay then what is the point of limiting another place? Its not like this place is going to be affordable to those d unken miscreants you think you are keeping out.
I hate the archaic liquor laws of this city. Let the market decide.
Louis had a restaurant (remember when Jordan Marsh did?)
Which they shut because of the impending move to the Waterfront rather than make renovations, which got them a citation from Boston Police for non-use of a liquor license, which forced them to appear before the licensing board (last month, I think), at which they said they wanted to re-open the restaurant at the new location.
Sorry for leaving such an obvious part of the story out; I've added it in.
Jordan Marsh was on the
Jordan Marsh was on the level. Take a look at the vilolations at Louis. "Hey everybody, let's have late night parties. Nobody will notice" Give a legit guy what he wants without dragging the defunct Louis into the mix.
jordans...
Red Lantern?
Correct me if I am wrong, but
Correct me if I am wrong, but isn't 61 Mass. Ave on the corner of Comm Ave and Mass Ave? It's not on Marlborough. I wish they'd let them open the new restaurant there. Me thinks the existing restaurants nearby don't want the added competition.
That storefront has been empty for a lonnnng time. Get something in there!
You're right
I goofed - it was the resident I quoted who lives on Marlborough applauding the plan on Mass. Ave. Thanks for spotting that.
Dbar
Dbar itself is pretty sweet, as is Dot Ave, but really, claiming it revitalized that stretch of Dot Ave -- doesn't that seem a little much?
The stretch still has a Burger King, the BPS East Zone office, a mini mart, a Dunkies, a bus parking lot, a car wash, a nameless bottle/can redemption center, AutoZone, and several muffler and/or tire places. Not exactly a hip and happenin stretch of street. Oh, and the worst traffic light evar at Dot and Freeport, which is always on flashing yellow/flashing red, despite all the cars flying out of the triangular-rotaries-of-death while cars coming from East St try for 20 minutes to squeeze in. I mean, I'm in that area quite a bit, and I mean no disrespect (except for that traffic light, the stupid bastard), but wouldn't "revitalizing" imply something more than the current strictly utilitarian array of businesses?
jeez
It's on mass ave for f*cks sake. I'm sick of the neighborhood associations in this town and their histrionics putting the screws on growth. What a bunch of rich cranky whiners.