License Commission Calls Reardons

License Commission members decided last Thursday night, March 29, at their monthly meeting that they would be calling Reardon’s Pub before them concerning allegations aired last month in an undercover Fox 25 news report about illegal gambling on poker machines.
“The commission will call Reardon’s before us for a hearing on the Fox 25 news story,” said Chair Michael Pepe.
The investigation involved an undercover reporter with a hidden camera going into Reardon’s and documented what appeared to be illegal gambling activities on the video poker machines, which the commission regulates and licenses.
Reardon’s owners are scheduled to appear at next month’s meeting.
In other news, there was a whole host of contentious issues facing the commission, including a brutal stabbing that occurred in or around the Squire Lounge last December. One man was cut so badly that his vertebrae and spinal cord were exposed.
Police and representatives for the club argued their cases, and commissioners were unable to determine whether the stabbing occurred inside the club or outside. It was the contention of the club that it happened in the parking lot and that they had done everything they could to prevent the two parties from fighting.
“After getting burnt by the Lion’s Den decisions, we looked at this very carefully,” said Pepe. “No weapons got through the metal detectors that we could tell. They seemed to do all they could do, so at the request of the police department, we continued it in hopes that after the criminal matter is disposed of, the witnesses will be more forthcoming.”
Other issues include:
•The Parkway Convenience store, 190A Parkway, was granted a beer and wine package store liquor license in the face of great opposition from residents and RevereCARES. The establishment is located next door to Dimino’s Sub Shop.
“Although the commission fully understands the concerns of RevereCARES and its representatives, we issued the license,” said Pepe. “The statute requires that the license would be a detriment to the neighborhood and the fact of the matter is there’s no neighborhood where Dimino’s is. It’s virtually an island to itself.”
•Tropical Grille, 227 Revere St., was denied an application to have live entertainment (one guitar and vocal music) and to close at 1 a.m. seven days a week. The restaurant’s owners were vociferously opposed by neighbors at the Friendly Gardens complex and Ward Councillor Arthur Guinasso.
“We did vote to deny the permit because, quite frankly, they don’t have any parking,” said Pepe. “The people who run the restaurant do a good job, but it’s a restaurant, and we want it to stay a restaurant and not a nightclub.”
•Chepe’s Restaurant, 341 Broadway, got approved for a Common Victualler License with the same provisions of the previous establishment, Goodfella’s.
•Club Lido requested a continuance until April to continue ironing out an agreement with the city that would outline its potential closure in the coming years.
•Drive-In Diner, 419 Lee Burbank Hwy, was granted a permit to amend its hours on Monday to Wednesday, 5 a.m. to 9 p.m., and on Thursday to Saturday, to 24 hours a day.

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