Use this search box to find articles that have run in our newspapers over the last several years.

Board denies proposed Bay Street wine/beer license

Date: 3/3/2009

By G. Michael Dobbs

Managing Editor



SPRINGFIELD -- The Board of License Commissioners followed the lead of the Hill-McKnight Neighborhood Council and the Planning Board to deny an application for a beer and wine license for Cee Cee s Variety Store at 314 Bay St. Thursday night.

Owner Jose Rosario told the board that he wanted the license as part of his plans to expand his business. There was a petition with 100 signatures from his customers in the neighborhood who supported the proposal.

Board chair Peter Sygnator noted that both the neighborhood council and the Planning Board had ruled against the license due to its location and not Rosario s reputation as a responsible businessman.

The width of Bay Street in that area and the traffic congestion that might be caused by the addition of beer and wine sales at the location were noted as public safety issues by Deputy Chief John O Shea in a letter from the Springfield Fire Department to the board.

City Councilor Bud Williams spoke out against the application. Williams and his family attend Mount Zion Baptist Church, which is close to the store. Lauding Rosario as a good businessman, Williams added, This proposal doesn t fit. This area is very fragile.

Sygnator noted there have been previous unsuccessful efforts by businesses to obtain licenses in the same area and Commissioner Juan Rivera said the board needed to be consistent in its decision.

In other actions, the board voted to accept the 30-day period in which the Panache Banquet Hall has been voluntarily closed following a Jan. 17 stabbing as punishment for the incident. A woman was stabbed at the establishment and rather than call the police and an ambulance, the victim was allowed to drive herself to Baystate Medical Center.

Police learned about the incident from the medical center staff.

Owner Evins Brantly said there had never been an occurance of that type at his business and there would not be one in the future.

He is re-applying for all of his necessary licenses and submitted a security plan for the facility.