The Boston Licensing Board yesterday heard from the owners of several more restaurants and other places seeking some of the new Zip-code specific liquor licenses the board will be doling out this year – as well as from applicants for more traditional licenses that would become instantly worth several hundred thousand dollars.
The new licenses come from a total of 225 the state agreed last year to let Boston dole out. Most are “restricted” to restaurants in 13 specific Zip codes – and Brighton’s Oak Square – or community facilities that have to be given back to the city if the restaurants or facilities close. But 12 are “unrestricted” licenses that can be used anywhere in the city – and as collateral for loans or resold at whatever the market will bear.
The licensing board is holding hearings on applications filed by the end of May, after which it will decide winners. Although it awarded the first batch of restricted licenses in February, the board held off awarding any of the unrestricted licenses to try to drum up applications in areas outside of the North End and the Seaport. Two of this week’s three hearings, however, were for restaurants in the North End.
sweeties, Roslindale
The New Zealand ice cream place at 48 Corinth St. in Roslindale Square is seeking an all alcohol license for 02131. Anika Gramsey, co-owner with her wife, Jamila, said the license would let them continue to bolster the place as an “opening and inclusive third space” where customers can “experience joy through food and spontaneous conversation.”
More specifically, she said sweeties, open since 2023, would add alcohol-infused desserts, seasonal drink offerings and flights and just “experimental pairings” that would go well with the “quirky culture” of Roslindale and satisfy “the curious palates of our customers.”
Board Chairwoman Kathleen Joyce praised Gramsey’s explanation, saying that when she first saw the application she couldn’t figure out why an ice-cream place would want a liquor license.
Italian Express, East Boston
James Iannuzzi, longtime owner of the Italian restaurant at 336 Sumner St. in East Boston’s Jeffries Point, would use an 02128 all-alcohol license to add cocktails to his lunch and dinner menu, his attorney, Michael Ross, said. Aside from a pandemic-forced shutdown, Italian Express has long been a stalwart of the Jeffries Point scene, Ross said, noting it was the first openly gay-owned restaurant in East Boston.
Boston Pickle Club, Hyde Park
Steven Hauck is seeking an 02136 beer-and-wine license for the pickleball venue at 91 Sprague St. in Hyde Park’s Readville, both for players to fortify themselves after matches and to serve at corporate and social events.
If granted, it would be Readville’s second sports facility with a liquor license – the Sunset Bocci Club on Danny Road has a liquor license.
Blasi’s Kitchen & Bar, Dorchester
Maria Blasi already has a beer-and-wine license for her restaurant at 762 Adams St. in Dorchester’s Adams Village. Her attorney, Ryan Spitz, said that if she is awarded an 02122 full-liquor license, she would turn that license in – which the board could then give out to an applicant anywhere in the city – and offer a greater selection of drinks to her customers.
Although Blasi owns the entire building housing her eponymous restaurant, Spitz said she has no plans to expand the restaurant beyond its current 82-seat space with room for 24 at the bar.
Daily Catch, North End
The Daily Catch has been around for 52 years – even as it keeps losing locations due to gentrifying redevelopment. Louis Freddura said the family has finally returned to the waterfront with a location at 65 Atlantic Ave. in the North End, which currently has a beer and wine license.
He and his mother Maria said a full liquor license – they would need one of the unrestricted licenses – would let them serve customers who flock from all over and so “are not familiar with the history of Boston liquor law” and why they can’t get spirits to go with their schrod.
Louis Freddura added that, in addition to the three current locations – Atlantic Avenue, Hanover Street and Brookline – the family is looking at bringing their New England seafood to other areas, possibly the South End and Beacon Hill.
LoConte’s, North End
Like the Freddura’s Mara LoConte is seeking to replace her current beer and wine license with an unrestricted, all alcohol license for her eponymous restaurant at 116 Salem St. LoConte’s has been serving Italian food for some three decades now.
Kenzoku Mazesoba, Fenway
This 26-seat restaurant at 506 Park Dr. in Audobon Circle is seeking an unrestricted full liquor license for its Asian-fusion noodle menu.
Earlier:
From a West Indian restaurant in Roxbury to a gastropub in Oak Square: Board hears more applicants for Boston liquor licenses.
New applicants for alcohol licenses include a cafe in JP, a tavern in Roslindale, a Colombian restaurant in East Boston and an event space in Dorchester.
