The Fall River Licensing Board met on January 15, 2020, to address a heavy docket consisting primarily of license renewals that had missed filing deadlines, requiring several applicants to refile as new licenses in accordance with state Alcoholic Beverages Control Commission (ABCC) guidance. The board reiterated that a $250 penalty applies to late license renewals and emphasized compliance with mandatory filing deadlines. Among major items, the board approved new package store beer and wine licenses for South Main Market at 543 South Main Street, an on-premises alcohol license for Qdoba Restaurant Corporation at 544 William S. Canning Boulevard, and an all-alcohol club license for the Portuguese Veterans Sports Club at 406 Webster Street.
Several automobile dealer (Class II) licenses were reviewed and granted renewals, including Luongo’s Auto Sales at 643 Brayton Avenue, Fall River Distribution Center at 1 A Street, Auto Sales at 394 Stafford Road, and Rockland Auto at 438 Second Street. Applications where licensees failed to appear or maintain operations were tabled, with Joe’s Cafe LLC at 739 Columbia Street and MJD Auto Trade LLC at 56 North Main Street being referred to the police department to confirm whether they were operating without valid licensure.
The board also addressed a prolonged unlicensed operation by Eastern Pizza at 1196 Bedford Street. Owner Constantinos Mitsos appeared before the board, explaining that while he held health and building permits, he was unaware a separate common victualler license was required for dine-in seating. The board conditionally approved Eastern Pizza’s common victualler license subject to an inspection and a favorable police background report from Detective Coderre, ordering that dining room seating remain closed until final clearances were issued.
Topics discussed
- 0:37 · Luongo’s Auto Sales Class II License — tabled
Pablo Luongo’s late renewal for a 25-car Class II license at 643 Brayton Avenue was granted. - 2:31 · Approve common victualler license for Eastern Pizza at 1196 Bedford Street pending favorable police report and board inspection — approved
- 4:34 · South Main Market Beer & Wine License — approved
Attorney Arthur Frank presented the new package store application for South Main Market of Fall River LLP and manager Muhammad Bilal Mir. - 8:06 · Qdoba Alcohol and Common Victualler License — approved
Attorney Andrew Upton and Brian Newcombe presented an application for a common victualler liquor license after missing renewal filings. - 11:19 · Portuguese Veterans Sports Club All-Alcohol Club License — approved
Board reviewed and approved a club license and manager re-filing for 406 Webster Street. - 13:22 · Barrett’s Alehouse Manager Change — approved
Board tabled the application for a change of manager for Barrett’s Alehouse at 4171 North Main Street. - 13:40 · Niagara Liquors Pledge of License — approved
Attorney Sean Harley presented a pledge of license to BankFive following commercial refinancing for 1971 Rodman Street. - 15:49 · 99 West LLC Corporate Officers Change — approved
Board re-approved the change of corporate officers and directors for 99 West LLC at 203 Plymouth Avenue after statewide ABCC advertisement. - 16:19 · Table lodging house application for Oshlack Operations LLC (274-276 Fourth Street and 197 Rodman Street) — tabled
- 16:30 · Oshlack Operations Lodging House — tabled
Board tabled the lodging house application because the applicant was delayed in traffic and the properties were under contract of sale. - 16:53 · Fall River Distribution Center Class II — approved
Kevin Quinn received approval for a late Class II dealer license renewal at 1 A Street. - 18:15 · MJD Auto Trade Absence — approved
Board tabled David Hamadi’s renewal for 56 North Main Street and referred it to police to ensure it was not operating. - 18:15 · Table Class II renewal for MJD Auto Trade LLC at 56 North Main Street and refer to police department — tabled
- 18:30 · Auto Sales Stafford Road Class II — approved
Mark Sheik received approval for a Class II auto license renewal at 394 Stafford Road. - 19:37 · Rockland Auto Class II — approved
Board conditionally granted a Class II renewal for a 5-car auto lot at 438 Second Street pending review of the application. - 21:56 · Joe’s Cafe Absence and Police Referral
Board voted to table the renewal and direct police to inspect whether the business was illegally operating. - 22:19 · Eastern Pizza Common Victualler Violation and Conditional Approval — approved
Costas Mitsos explained he was unaware he needed a common victualler license for his 36-seat restaurant; board conditionally granted the license pending inspection and a report from Detective Coderre. - 27:50 · Late Filing Penalties and Deadlines — approved
Board members reiterated that starting in 2020, late renewals are subject to a $250 penalty and risk revocation if not completed by January 1st.