Pittsfield Board Forcing Sale of Former Debbie Wong's Liquor License
PITTSFIELD, Mass. — The city is giving the owner of the former Debbie Wong building until the end of June to sell the unused liquor license.
John Herbert owns the building on Dalton Avenue, which the restaurant vacated in 2012. He's been trying to find a new tenant, sell the building, or even sell the liquor license separately. But to no avail.
"I don't know how much more I could do at this point," Herbert told the Licensing Board on Monday.
Herbert said he has a contract with Greylock Realty to sell either the building or the license but he said there has been no interest.
"I have nothing new to say. It is in the hands of the realtor," Herbert said.
The Licensing Board says it's been too long and the members haven't seen enough progress in the sale. Now, the board says if the license isn't sold by the meeting in late June, it will be revoked. The city is only allotted a certain number of licenses so once taking it back, it cannot be reissued.
"I don't think you are doing enough. This has gone on for a very long time," Chairman Carmen Massimiano said. "You are responsible for this. Either you sell it, which you are trying to do, you can open, or you can give it up. But something needs to be done. It shouldn't be floating out there."
The building is on the market with or without the license. The asking price is listed as $899,900, a price the board members felt wouldn't attract a buyer. Instead, the board says there is a demand in the city from restaurants wanting an all-alcohol license, so a sale of the license alone should be possible.
"Nobody is going to buy that size restaurant. I think if you want to keep that license, I would be actively selling the license separately," member Richard Stockwell said. "I would sell it before you lose it. It is coming close to the time when we'll have to take it back."
Herbert said his contract with the realtor ends on July 1, so the board opted to give until just short of the end of that contract for a sale. If nothing has happened by the June 27 meeting, the license will be revoked.
"I think the chairman has been very generous for the last nine or 10 months we've been playing with this," Stockwell said.
Another inactive license, the Polish Community Club, is seeing progress after nearly two years. Former manager Stella Spence died in 2014 and the club has struggled with leadership. The issue came to a head when police responded there for a fight and no manager was on duty. Since then club member John Kerwood has been trying to put the pieces together to reopen.
Kerwood said the bank won't release club funds or approve a loan until there is a new board of directors since the last slate was expired. He's since tracked down all of the members and scheduled an election for April 24. Then, he expects to receive access to the fund and the loan to get the license back.
"From there, I will have someone we're going to elect to put on the license application," Kerwood said.
The Licensing Board was pleased to hear the progress and asked him to return in May with another update.
"It's been a long struggle for you and it appears the end is at hand," Massimiano said. "We would certainly like to see the Polish American Club resume its position."
The license for Chameleons on East Street is also set to be sold after being inactive since 2014. Attorney Anthony Doyle, representing property owner Pamela Rice, said the license is still in the hand of Chameleons' operator Melissa Drumm-Sweener but a sale is expected.
"I would hope that it would be done by the next meeting but it might be the one after that," Doyle said.
Doyle said there were two negotiations ongoing for the license but one fell through. The focus is on completing a sale of the license, to be used on a different property, in the coming months. If a sale isn't completed, Rice would be looking to transfer the license into her name.
While not inactive for nearly as long as the others, the board also asked Paul Masiero, the operator of the former Baba Louie's Restaurant on Depot Street, what his plans were. Masiero shut down in December and said he is currently working with landlord George Whaling to find a new tenant.
"There has been a lot of interest in that spot. I'd say six or seven people actively seeking ventures in that area," he told the board.
The board asked just for an update in June. Masiero said he hopes a new tenant will be in the location and purchasing the license or business in the next eight months.
In other business, the board approved licenses for Vong's Restaurant, the former Paul's Restaurant, on Seymour Street. The restaurant is already open and Monday's approval changed the name and the alteration of the premises — minor renovations were done in the inside.
• The board approved changing the manager of the American Legion on Wendell Avenue to Harold Sheerin.
• The hour restriction for Lach's Lounge has been lifted after the owners fulfilled the requirements. Owner Arthur Beattie had his pouring license suspended for seven days and his entertainment license for 60 days, his closing time was cut back to midnight and he had to install security cameras. Police Lt. Michael Grady said the cameras have been installed and there have not been any problems since the suspension.
"It's obviously important that there haven't been any incidents since the last time and you've essentially done what we've told you to do," said Board member Thomas Campoli.
The business can go back to closing at 2 a.m. and can have entertainment as of April 3.
Tags: alcohol license, license board, license suspension,
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