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Date: 7/13/2021
NORTHAMPTON – During the Northampton License Commission’s July 7 meeting, the commission hosted a public hearing to amend the entertainment license currently held by JJ’s Tavern at 99 Main St. in Florence.
To start the public hearing, the commission listened to testimony from residents in favor of limiting the license and those against it.
One resident who frequents the tavern, Katie McGuinness, said people were going to complain about music no matter what and the tavern has the music to attract more business.
“He is not doing this to have a music venue. It is to attract business for people to come have a burger and a beer. I do not think you will be happy with anything, and the VFW has a license, there is music at the Florence Civic Center, it is just something you have to deal with in commercial zoning. He is trying to make it suitable to you, but you won’t be happy with anything,” she said.
Another resident, Robert Bush said he can hear the music in his house with the windows closed.
“We are inconvenienced every weekend; it is just incredible, and it is not fair to the residents nearby that they are able to play that music at will. We live here all the time, and we have to put up with it all the time. When I am inside my house with the windows closed and I can sing along it is too loud,” he said.
From his own visit to the tavern and the surrounding area, Campedelli said the music was not as loud as residents said.
“Quite honestly it was not as bad as you guys are making it out to be. I have a video and I could not tell what song was being played from the sidewalk, I could hear the person with their windows open in their living room and their conversation over the music,” he said.
JJ’s Tavern owner Jon Neumann said the outdoor performances raised profits on those nights by about 40 percent.
“It is about a 38 to 45 percent increase in sales. It is a destination people call for reservations and come out to. It is extremely noticeable,” he said.
He added that they were trying to do everything possible to address the noise issue.
“The same five people are complaining against me that complained the first month, nothing has changed because they never wanted it to happen. We are trying our asses off to make this thing work and we do not think the noise is unreasonable,” Neumann said.
Yakovlev said that she believes the music is too loud and the license should be brought in line with other entertainment licenses the commission has approved.
“In this situation it is clear that there is a breakdown of some sorts, the music is still too loud, I have heard it and I agree. We have the music at JJ’s arguably with a wide-open license to do it whenever they want to and I completely understand that can be problematic and should be more in line with the other outdoor entertainment licenses that have been issued to other businesses,” she said.
Ultimately the commission voted 2 to 1 to amend JJ’s Tavern’s entertainment license to allow for outdoor acoustic performances once a weekend.
Before the public hearing, the commission also voted to approve a new entertainment license for Miss Florence Diner that would allow acoustic music up to two days a week.
After hearing live music coming from the diner without a license one Sunday, Commission member Natasha Yakovlev said it was too loud and preferred just acoustic music without amplification.
“There was a Sunday morning where there was live entertainment and I know that was in error, but it was really loud, I was in town that day and left my office and was quite astonished by that. My position on this particular license would be to make sure it is acoustic only without amplification,” she said.
Commission Chair Brian Campedelli said because there are always going to be complaints, the commission needs to find a compromise between residents and the business.
“Someone is always going to complain no matter what, there has to be a happy medium. You have to let business happen, but it has to be mindful of everybody involved. There is no reason why you cannot have some nice music when you are having lunch or brunch,” he said.
Campadelli said he was against judging the diner before seeing what happens with the performances.
“What we are trying to do is be fair for everybody. There is no one here that has the authority to judge Miss Flo’s Diner and the owner’s actions before they even happen, she said she is going to do her best to keep this pliable for everyone, we are not going on what ifs and how abouts,” he said.
The commission approved the license with a 2 to 1 vote.
During the meeting, the commission also approved short term liquor licenses for 25 different events at the Academy of Music from Sept. 8 to Dec. 19.
The License Commission next meets on Aug. 4.