North Adams Sees Drop in Alcohol Licenses
NORTH ADAMS, Mass. — The city's down four alcohol licenses for 2025 with the closing of the Mohawk Tavern, Meng's Pan-Asian, Bistro 413 and the Breakroom.
The License Commission last week approved the annual pouring, entertainment, package, liquor and automobile dealer licenses for the coming year.
Commissioner Rosemari Dickinson said Bistro 413 and Mohawk had alerted her they were not renewing; Meng's surrendered its license in September and the Break Room when it closed in September.
"It's a hit. ... I keep saying this every year, as the years go by, we lose," she said. "Like last year, I believe we lost four or five, or the year before. I don't have the figures in front of me, but it seems we're going down."
The Mohawk shuttered its doors on Nov. 30; the bar had been operated for nine years by Alexander "Sandy" Smith, whose Gramercy Bistro closed in October when its lease in Williamstown was not renewed.
The closure isn't the only one in the Mulcare Block: Grazie Ristorante owner Matthew Tatro announced that he would be moving the eatery to the Venue, formerly the Ranch, on State Street.
Both the bar and restaurant had opened as anchors in the historic block renovated by developer David Moresi of Moresi & Associates. When contacted about the future of those spaces, Moresi responded, "always a plan."
Meng's was closed by order of the Board of Health after city inspectors found numerous problems. The restaurant had been taken over by new owners earlier this year.
Award-winning chef Brian Alberg closed the Break Room at Greylock Works in September and was replaced by State Food and Drink, which does not have an alcohol license.
Bistro 413 had operated for six years, first in Williamstown and then for four years in Hotel Downstreet on Main Street. The family owned business said it will continue it catering operations.
Dickinson said any restaurant going into the hotel would have to apply for a new license. The hotel had been approved last fall for an all-alcohol license with plans to sell premixed cocktails or wines for consumption in rooms but apparently had not moved forward with the plan and had no license on file.
The Wigwam Western Summit had a seasonal license, which went the old owners. Kelly and Alan Scofield took over the operations in early fall and noted on the Wigwam's Facebook page they wouldn't be serving in 2024 but "we hope to toast you soon."
"They haven't approached us yet, because they were trying to feel their way around and decide if that was something they really want to pursue," said Dickinson, adding if they do decide, it would be in the next year.
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