Owners of the building that formerly housed the Mt. Vernon at the Wharf Restaurant appeared before the License Commission last Thursday and maintained that they will immediately pay the $33,000 water bill that was left on their doorstep last month.
“We were in the process of evicting them for non-payment of rent and on the final day, the ownership vacated the building,†said Deborah Molle, a controller of the trust that owns the building. “We were left with $75,000 in unpaid real estate tax payments, water and sewer tax payments and rental fees. We hope to open Café Victorio to once again do business there as a restaurant … We will make full payment today of the unpaid water and sewer bills to the City and will need 60 days to proceed with renovations to re-occupy the restaurant for business again.â€
Molle said that she previously managed the old Wharf Restaurant for decades and has plenty of experience to move forward.
She said all other bills with the City are up to date and that the full water and sewer bill is $34,448.60.
Nevertheless, the Commission was prevented from taking action on the Trust’s application for new licenses at the establishment.
That was because the Commission had revoked all of the Mt. Vernon at the Wharf’s licenses earlier in the meeting. No new licenses could be issued until the appeal period expired on that matter.
“There’s no way the Commission can issue a new license at the location until all issues with the former licensee are resolved,†said Chair Thomas Henneberry.
The matter was continued until the November meeting.
In other matters:
•The 7-11 on North Shore Road, under manager Vipul Patel, was granted a beer and wine package store license after a hearing that showed much support, but some heavy opposition from Ward 5 Councillor John Powers.
A number of customers and one nearby resident spoke in favor of the license, noting that the owner has not been before the Commission in 17 years of business.
Police Capt. Michael Murphy said the department did have some reservations about granting the license, given the types of crime that occur in the surrounding area. He said they felt that the license might just exacerbate the problem in that immediate area.
RevereCARES also opposed the license.
Powers said he was dead set against it, noting that there is a package store very close to the 7-11, and that many neighbors voiced opposition to him about the license.
“This certainly won’t be a convenience to anyone down there in that neighborhood,†he said.
Commissioners, though, said they found themselves in a Catch-22 position.
“Unfortunately, the state keeps sending these licenses and we have to give them out,†said Commissioner Linda Guinasso. “I feel the same as you. I think we have enough licenses in the City of Revere…We do have to issue them somewhere. I think eventually you will see every supermarket and convenience store on every corner have a license just like in New Hampshire. As it is now, we’re in a predicament.â€
The license was approved unanimously.
• Owners of the China Roma were unanimously approved to hold a new common victualler license on Revere Beach, where the old Dunkin’ Donuts used to be located. The new venture will be called China Roma Express and will deal mostly in take-out, but will have a few seats available.
• A new Subway sandwich restaurant was approved for a license enabling them to open at the new shopping center at Mahoney (Bell) Circle. Hardik Patel is listed as the manager and he also owns the Subway on Broadway.
• E-Z Liquors at 750 Washington Ave. was transferred from long-time owners F & D Corporation to Bhavin Patel.