WESTFIELD – The License Commission voted last night to allow two licensed premises to expand and to grant a new license to 99 Restaurants of Boston, LLC, but all three licenses are contingent upon an inspection by Building Superintendent Jon Flagg to determine occupancy capacity.
The approvals are also contingent upon submission of a modified seating plan.
Lori Lucia, owner of Shenanigan’s, said that she is seeking to open the second floor area, which is already equipped with a small bar area for private events, such as birthdays, anniversaries, and to accommodate the 10 pool teams playing there, as well as dart teams.
Lucia plans to move a coin-operated pool table, one of two now on the first floor, to the second floor which has two ways of egress and is equipped with fire sprinklers.
Use of the second floor requires the building inspector to issue a certificate of inspection and to set occupancy limits based upon the structure of the building.
The commission voted to amend a condition of Lucia’s all-alcoholic license and allow her to modify the seating plan described in that condition. Lucia will be required to submit a new seating plan.
Julie and Nabil Hannoush, who are converting the former Balise dealership into a retail complex that will include the Shortstop Bar & Grill, set to open on December 15, have requested an alteration of their license to include a banquet facility in the former automobile showroom and service building.
Nabil Hannoush presented the commission with details of his request to increase the footprint of a restaurant he plans to open at 99 Springfield Street later this month.
Hannoush said he plans to open the Shortstop Bar and Grill LLC, but now is seeking to extend the liquor license to include a 2,440-square-foot functions room which will be used for banquets and private events. Construction of the licensed premise is still underway.
“I feel there is a need in Westfield for this kind of facility,” Hannoush said.
The Commission approved that license extension with similar conditions which require a certificate of inspection and a seating plan submission.
The third application reviewed by the commission is for a project which has not even begun yet, a petition submitted by 99 Restaurants of Boston, LLC, which is planning to demolish another former automobile dealership, Regency Oldsmobile at 342 East Main St., and construct a new 5,688-square-foot one-story restaurant facility. The chain plans to open the new facility next summer.
99 Restaurants of Boston currently has 62 restaurants in Massachusetts, six in the western part of the state. In addition to the liquor license the chain will require an entertainment license and a common victualler license as well, both issued by the License Commission.
The board voted to continue that public hearing to allow the corporation’s executive board to approve and submit a floor plan as part of its application. The commission’s next meeting is scheduled for Jan. 12, 2015.
