The License Commission said the imposed midnight closing hours at two new bars is intended to head off late night trouble.
SPRINGFIELD – The License Commission recently approved liquor licenses for a bar on State Street and for a restaurant-sports bar proposed at the Five Town Plaza, but with a requirement that both must close at midnight.The commission approved an all-alcohol restaurant license for Gianna & Gabby, Inc., doing business as Christopher’s Sports Tavern at 296 Cooley St., at the Five Town Plaza. The commission imposed the midnight closing, as sought by many residents of the Outer Belt area, who raised concerns about potential trouble after midnight and noise.
The commission also set a midnight closing for an all-alcohol restaurant license for JB King Inc., doing business as Duck’s Place at 1146 State St., formerly the Charm Cafe.
Thomas Rooke
While representatives of Duck’s Place did not object to the midnight closing, the manager of Christopher’s strongly objected, and is considering not moving forward with the business,” said its lawyer, Thomas Rooke of Springfield.
“I feel it’s discriminatory, and the license board never gave the applicant an opportunity to prove himself,” Rooke said.
The manager, Christopher G. Arillotta of East Longmeadow, is very concerned about the loss of revenue from the early closing, Rooke said.
Commission Chairman Peter L. Sygnator said residents rasied strong concerns about late-night trouble that could occur in the Outer Belt area.
Sygnator said the other businesses, while technically allowed to be open until 2 a.m., are family establishments and “all is quiet in Five Town Plaza after midnight.”
Peter L. Sygnator
The commission approved the liquor license at Duck’s Place by a 4-1 vote, with member Denise Kelcey voting ‘no,” citing concerns about a return of trouble at that location near American International College.
Representatives of the college appeared at the meeting and submitted a letter, asking the commission to deny the liquor license request, saying there is no need for the bar, and raising concerns there could be resurgence of trouble that existed at past bars at that location.
City Councilor Bud L. Williams spoke in favor of the liquor license at Duck’s Place.
Regarding Christopher’s Sports Tavern, Sygnator and Outer Belt Civic Association President Walter Gould said none of the other liquor establishments in the immediate area stay open past midnight.
Rooke said he questions why others have the 2 a.m. allowance.
“Most interestingly, there is not a single residence within the length of three football fields from that front door,” Rooke said.
In other action, the commission has scheduled a special meeting on Feb. 6, to begin discussion of a proposal by Mayor Domenic J. Sarno for a 1 a.m. closing hour for liquor establishments citywide.
Currently, there is a 1 a.m. entertainment curfew that forces bars to shut off the music and other entertainment at 1 a.m., but the bars are allowed to stay open until the regular closing hour of 2 a.m. More than 20 bar-restaurants have a waiver from the curfew.
An earlier closing hour, as proposed by Sarno, would need approval from the License Commission.
Sygnator said the commission will seek crime statistics from the Police Department regarding how the 1 a.m. curfew has worked, to help determine if the 1 a.m. closing of liquor establishments makes sense. The meeting is expected to be at 5:30 p.m., at City Hall on Feb. 6.
Sarno, in proposing the 1 a.m. closing in April and again in July, said he believes it will enhance public safety. Opponents say the proposed earlier closing hour, as well as the existing 1 a.m. curfew on entertainment,. is hurting business, and unjustified for public safety.