Downtown loses Onyx, but gains Mama Iguana's

Date: 3/29/2011

March 30, 2011

By G. Michael Dobbs

Managing Editor

SPRINGFIELD — The Board of License Commissioners voted to approve the transfer of an alcoholic license from the owners of the Onyx Fusion and Bar to Mama Iguana's, a Mexican restaurant that is slated to replace Onyx later this year.

The commissioners stipulated their vote was contingent on Claudio Guerra, the president of the Spoleto restaurant group, which operates a Mama Iguana's in Northampton, providing clarification on exactly where the company is getting the $100,000 it is paying for the purchase of the business and the $150,000 it needs for renovations.

Board Chair Peter Sygnator explained the application for the license transfer states that if an applicant is using cash — as opposed to a bank loan — to pay for a license, it must show it maintains the necessary amount in three months of bank statements. The documents supplied with the application did not adequately illustrate the company has access to $250,000.

Guerra said that $100,000 is a loan from his wife's family and that the check has not yet been deposited. He also explained that some of the $150,000 in renovation work actually isn't entirely a cash transaction but is done partly in trade. He also said that not all of the renovation work — which will be largely painting and the addition of Mexican artwork — would be done by the time the restaurant should opens in June.

William Collins, who will be the manager of the new restaurant, said it would be open for both lunch and dinner with hours of 11 a.m. to 2 a.m. Friday and Saturday and 11 a.m. to midnight Monday through Thursday.

Among the renovations slated are moving an awning, adding a frying unit to the kitchen and removing the Onyx signature television monitor array above the bar.

Guerra said the televisions are "too slick" for his new restaurant.

When asked if he was going to offer entertainment at the eatery, Guerra said he was going to keep two televisions for sports, but he was not going to feature music or dancing.

"We're not doing a night club," he said.

Sygnator said he was excited about the addition to the city's restaurant offerings, but expressed surprise about the location.

"A lot of people were startled, including me," Guerra said with a laugh.