Pittsfield's Tavern at the A Secures Liquor License
PITTSFIELD, Mass. — The General Electric Athletic Golf Course's onsite restaurant has new operators.
On Monday, the Licensing Board approved an All-Alcohol Restaurant License transfer from House of Seasoning, a change of license location, and a change of manager for the Crane Avenue establishment.
It is now operated by Skyline at the A Inc., doing business as Tavern at the A.
The eatery was shuttered last summer, and former operator Hailey Satrape finally surrendered the existing liquor license before it was revoked.
Now, former Skyline Country Club owner James Mitus brings his decades of experience to The A. According to the "Tavern at the A" Facebook page, it had been operating without alcoholic offerings.
"Jim Mitus, as you may know, operated Skyline Country Club for a better part of 36 years. He's been involved in this type of business for a very long time, and in fact, even ran The A for about a year, year and a half, and he's anxious to get back," attorney Anthony Doyle explained to the board.
"We do have representatives from The A with us today as well. We're all looking forward to getting this transfer accomplished."
Earlier this year, the board started a six-month timer before revoking the Tavern at The A's liquor license. The GEAA had "absolutely no luck" transferring the former license.
Chairman Thomas Campoli reported that shortly after the April 28 meeting, Satrape surrendered the license to the Licensing Board and gave a copy to the Alcoholic Beverages Control Commission.
"Mr. Mitus, something tells me you know what the responsibilities are of a manager of a license," he said.
Skyline at the A was also granted a weekday entertainment license until 11 p.m. Mitus said he plans to have acoustic music once a week and may host a band once a month, but emphasized that it will not go late into the night.
"I've had a lot of interest in that, and people I have talked to, I tell them it's 8 to 11, that's it. Nothing good happens after that," he said.
"… Everybody remembers back in the '80s and '90s, when every Friday and Saturday they had bands until two o'clock in the morning. That's not what we're trying to do, but sometimes you have a function that wants to bring in entertainment, like an anniversary party or a wedding or something like that."
Abutter Christine Adams said when the license was transferred to the previous operator, her neighborhood came forward with concerns about noise and people spilling over into their road.
"I live right down on the third hole and I don't care what music's playing, it just echoes all the way down and the people behind us, and the people over here, and a lot of us are senior citizens," she said.
The previous license was for 1 p.m. through 10 p.m. from Monday to Wednesday, 1 p.m. to 11 p.m. on Thursday, and 1 p.m. to 1 a.m. on Saturday. Board members pointed out that Mitus has asked for fewer hours, and complaints can always be brought to the city.
It was also pointed out that the majority of music will be acoustic, and Adams said she has no objection to unamplified music.
"The latest they're going with entertainment is 11," board member Kathy Amuso said. "So I think what he's asking for is even better than the agreement that we had with the previous."
On May 15, the restaurant posted that the "kitchen is prepped and ready to go," indicated that it would have a visit from the building inspector, and that the kitchen would "hopefully" open at 3 p.m.
Tags: license board, alcohol license,
