Holyoke releases application for 13 new liquor licenses

Date: 12/5/2014

HOLYOKE – The city is now ready to accept applications for liquor licenses for potentially 13 new restaurants.

The restaurants would be located downtown within the confines of the city’s Urban Renewal Plan and the licenses were created through an act of the Legislature.

Tessa Murphy-Romboletti of the Office of Planning and Economic Development explained to Reminder Publications that no one has yet applied for the a license, but there have been some initial conversations with “local people who know what’s going on in Holyoke.”

She said the Holyoke Redevelopment Authority (HRA) would first review the completed applications. The selected applications would then be forward to the License Boards for that body’s normal approval process.

Murphy-Romboletti said the members of the Redevelopment Authority would “ask questions to get a feel how a restaurant is going to fit in the neighborhood.”

No standalone bars will be permitted to apply for these licenses, she added. The legislation created licenses strictly for restaurants.

The following criteria for the new licenses is listed in the application:

“Applicant proposes and commits to a maintaining regular extended hours of operation into evenings, at least four days a week, on weekends, and will maintain its food service available at all operating times. The Board may allow for a reasonable timeframe on a case-by-case basis to account for build-out and short ramp up of restaurant operations.

“Restaurant premises will include façade improvements and/or streetscape elements that are aesthetically pleasing and inviting to the public, through visible windows, clear signage, and other design elements, as appropriate.

“Improvements and investments will be made by the applicant to the restaurant property, and the applicant will show they have financial stability to undertake the proposed project.   

“The applicant demonstrates a commitment to create jobs with a preference for Holyoke residents and a plan to recruit employees from those living in the Center City neighborhoods.

“The applicant demonstrates experience as a restaurateur, and of the culinary, service and managerial staff employed or to be employed.”

Business plans, designs of the proposed restaurant, marketing and branding materials, qualifications of the management and kitchen staff and a proposed menu are other materials the HRA would like to see as part of the process.

Approved applicants will be subject to a one-time HRA fee of $10,000 as well as the standard local and state fees.  The HRA fee would be used to fund other economic development projects within the Urban Renewal Plan area.

 “Creating and implementing this program along with the Council and our state delegation has been a significant priority of my Administration over the past year,” Mayor Alex Morse said. “I thank Rep. [Aaron] Vega for first introducing the order during his time as a City Councilor and for working with us to craft the legislation, and the HRA Board and staff for seeing it through. I look forward to working with restaurateurs interested in setting up shop in Holyoke.”

A public information session will be announced in the near future for those interested in learning more about the licenses. Applicants are encouraged to visit http://www.HolyokeRedevelopment.com/ to download the application and learn more about the process and eligibility requirements, or contact Murphy-Romboletti at the Office of Planning and Economic Development at 322-5655 or RombolettiT@holyoke.org.