Board of License Commissioners approves expanded hours for Pueblito Paisa; liquor sales remain unchanged

The Board of License Commissioners of the City of Framingham voted Monday to amend the common victualler license for Pueblito Paisa, 66 Hollis Street, to allow the restaurant to operate Monday through Sunday from 6 a.m. to 9 p.m.

The change passed by roll call, 5-0. Commissioners approved the hours "pending payment of all taxes and fees and city department approvals," the board said during the meeting.

The vote does not change the restaurant's liquor license. Commissioners and city staff repeatedly told the applicants that Pueblito Paisa cannot sell alcohol during the added hours until it files and the board approves a separate amendment to its liquor license. "Our main interest is serving in the morning," Tatiana Castaneda, who identified herself as a part owner and co-manager, told the board. She and co-owner Abiela Jaramillo said they plan to file for the liquor-license amendment later.

Why it matters: expanding morning and Tuesday service affects customers, employees and neighborhood oversight because the shift extends operating hours into periods when alcohol sales are typically more likely. Commissioners emphasized the need for staff training and physical controls to prevent unauthorized sales during the hours that remain outside the scope of the current liquor license.

Board members pressed the applicants on how they would prevent alcohol sales between 9 p.m. and midnight if the board later approved expanded liquor hours. Commissioner Shannon McCullough asked whether the restaurant would separate alcohol sales from food service and whether employees would be trained. Audra Shaw, licensing coordinator, and Lieutenant McCarthy (police) recommended that any alcohol on site be secured or covered during the interim hours when the restaurant would be open but not permitted to sell alcohol.

The board record shows the applicants presently hold a beer-and-wine license; the owners said they may later seek an all-alcohol license to permit cocktails and canned mixed drinks. Commissioners noted that converting to a full liquor license is a separate process and may take longer to review.

Motion and vote: Commissioner Shannon McCullough moved to amend the common victualler application for Pueblito Paisa at 66 Hollis Street to Monday through Sunday, 6 a.m. to 9 p.m., pending payment of taxes, fees and department approvals; Commissioner Joseph Sterniolo seconded. The roll call vote was: McCullough, aye; Sterniolo, aye; Alicia DeAngelis, aye; Laura Medrano, aye; Chair Stuart Pology, aye. The motion passed unanimously, 5-0.

The board advised the applicants to complete the separate liquor-license amendment soon and to train servers to avoid unpermitted alcohol sales during the interim expanded hours. The board said it expects to see the owners return when they file the liquor-license application.