Use this search box to find articles that have run in our newspapers over the last several years.
Date: 9/13/2023
SPRINGFIELD — Ownership of an adult entertainment enterprise in Springfield recently changed hands with the approval of the city’s License Commission.
Longtime strip club owners James and Hellen Santaniello sold its ownership interest in Bino Inc., the corporation that operated the City Stage strip club at 265-271 Dwight St., a move that the commission approved during its Aug. 23 meeting. James and Helen Santaniello were the owners of Center Stage and the Mardi Gras Gentlemen’s Club at 350 Worthington St. until they both closed earlier this year. Bino Inc. was officially run by Helen Santaniello, according to records from the Secretary of the Commonwealth’s Office.
The Santaniellos, through the James Santaniello-owned B.S.C. Realty Inc., sold the Worthington Street property in March for $2.3 million. The Mardi Gras subsequently closed in April, along with City Stage. The X-Room, a male adult entertainment venue that previously occupied a portion of the Mardi Gras building, relocated and has operated at the Center Stage location on Dwight Street since May.
Samuel Velazquez, manager of The X-Room, purchased the Bino Inc. shares from Helen Santaniello, along with his partner, Richard Allen, who provided the purchase price of $200,000. The liquor license was previously transferred.
The X-Room advertises itself as “the only nude male strip club in New England.” Commissioner Peter Sygnator noted that the business would have to maintain the Center Stage name even after the transfer was approved. Velazquez said the business would eventually be renamed, but signage currently remains “The X-Room at Center Stage.” When asked by Sygnator if they had submitted a business certificate with the city clerk, Velazquez said they had.
According to city records, the Dwight Street building is still owned by the Santaniellos through B.S.C. Realty Inc., which took over the property in a paper transaction from 265-271 Dwight Street Inc., a corporation registered to Helen Santaniello, in May.
The commission also approved a change of closing time from 1 a.m. to 2 a.m. for Mojito’s Bar and Restaurant, located at 497 Belmont Ave., a building commonly known as the former Typical Sicilian.
Attorney Dan Kelly, speaking on behalf of petitioner, owner Paul Ramish, told the commission the restaurant has been “struggling” with its current business serving lunches and dinners. While initially open until midnight, the restaurant was approved for a 1 a.m. closing time “some time ago,” but have only regularly stayed open until 1 a.m. on Wednesdays and some Fridays, he said. Ramish contradicted this, saying the restaurant had always been open until 1 a.m. and Kelly admitted he was not the attorney when the business first opened.
The shift to a 2 a.m. closing was requested as a response to the restaurant’s management and ownership noting a recent trend of second-shift and hospitality workers creating a late-evening crowd. The plan was to keep the kitchen open during the extended hours.
“It’s not a nightclub; it’s a restaurant, although most people nowadays prefer to sit at the bar,” Kelly said.
In the two years he has represented the ownership, Kelly said he did not recall any violations. Springfield police officer Barry Delmarter said he has not received any reports or violations and there was one disturbance call in the past six months. In that incident, Delmarter said, the manager called the police after she was struck by the vehicle of an unhappy customer who refused to pay.
When queried, Ramish said he had not contacted the Forest Park Civic Association for input, claiming he has not received any support from the organization.
Beate Bolen, president of the Forest Park Civic Association, told the commission the restaurant’s last request for a change of hours was strongly opposed “for a variety of reasons you have on record.”
She added the civic association was not aware that this request would be on the agenda and therefore was not prepared to officially comment as she hadn’t had the opportunity to discuss it with members.
“I know the last time we opposed it, I see no good reason to be in favor of it this time,” Bolen said. “We would like to have an opportunity to consider it carefully and give you a considered response rather than me speaking off the cuff on behalf of the association.”
Ramish was unwilling when Commissioner Paul Sygnator asked if he’d be willing to meet with the association, arguing “they should support the businesses they want so much to control. Period. I don’t have anything else to say.”
Bolen took issue with Ramish’s accusation that the association was unsupportive, noting the group has 250 members. “Do you know all of us?” she asked Ramish rhetorically, later stating she has been a patron of the establishment.
Commission Chair Rosa Espinosa noted Ramish was not required to meet with the civic association. Sygnator, who acknowledged he was a member of the association, said he would entertain a two-week continuance to allow Ramish to meet with the association, to which Ramish responded, “Yeah, you haven’t been [to the restaurant], either.”
Commissioner Andrew Cade noted that the commission has allowed other businesses to incrementally increase their hours and was willing to do the same for Ramish, given there had been no violations with the 1 a.m. closing time.
The commission approved the extension with Sygnator issued the sole dissenting vote.
The commission also approved an extension of hours for Khi and Eli’s Food for the Soul on Sumner Avenue on one Friday a month from its typical 8 p.m. closing time to midnight in order to host special events. While the establishment would not serve alcohol, ownership sought to allow patrons to bring their own drinks during these events. Khi and Eli’s owner Melvin Lockett requested an extension of hours to 4 a.m., but the commission balked at that ask.
Sygnator explained and business owner Melvin Lockett confirmed the business conducted one such event in late July without approval and police taking notice of unusual activity at the restaurant prompted the informational hearing. Lockett admitted he was not aware the business needed approval for the event, but stressed there was ample security and the restaurant provided a safe environment for guests and surrounding neighbors. He said he visited neighbors with a petition in advance of the meeting, seeking their support, and has submitted that document to the commission before the hearing.
City Councilor at-Large Tracye Whitfield spoke at the meeting, stating she attended the July event, staying until 3:30 a.m., and noted it was executed without incident. Bolen expressed concerns that the Forest Park Civic Association wasn’t made aware of the event and the “extreme” hours. Lockett said he would be happy to speak with the association.
Cade reiterated his earlier statement on incremental increases in hours, stating a jump for 8 p.m. to 4 a.m. would be well beyond the commission’s usual practice. He said a midnight closure, while still beyond the norm, was more palatable. Sygnator agreed that the request exceeded the normal procedure.
Whitfield asked for clarification as to whether that was a written guideline or simply the normal procedure, Sygnator said he did not believe it was a written guideline. When Lockett suggested, then, that commissioners could go against convention and approve the request if they wanted, he said, “We could, but I think from 8 p.m. to 4 a.m. in a residential area is quite a leap, in my opinion.”
After the vote, Lockett asked if a 2 a.m. closing time would be possible, pointing to Boro Chino’s approval earlier in the meeting. “They’re literally a couple blocks away,” he argued. Espinosa explained the 12 a.m. approval was good for six months, at which point the commission would conduct a review and, perhaps, extend the hours further. Attorney Maurice Powe said if Lockett had a “justified reason” for the board to reconsider its vote, he could start the licensing process again.
The commission noted that in addition to extended hours, Lockett would have to apply for an entertainment license through the Mayor’s Office, as well as a BOYB license through the commission.
Lockett said he had submitted the application for the BYOB license the day prior to the meeting, but Powe said the board was not ready to act on that. As a result, until that application is acted upon, no drinking would be allowed.