Council extends show-cause hearings for two food-and-drink licensees; Pyramid Club and Harvest Inc. continued to next meeting

The Newport City Council continued show-cause hearings for two licensed food-and-drink establishments, giving both matters an additional two weeks to allow licenseholders to address outstanding compliance issues.

At the show cause hearing for Pyramid Club (operating without a valid Class D alcoholic beverage license and continued from Jan. 22), representatives including Kyle Bennett and Jonathan Hurd attended and requested more time. The council noted outstanding items tied to the Pyramid Club: failure to provide liability insurance, failure to show Secretary of State good-standing paperwork, incomplete clearance from the Newport Fire Department and unpaid daily fees. After council discussion and expressions of community support for the club’s role in neighborhoods, the council voted to close the hearing and extend the matter to the next meeting (two-week extension).

A later hearing for Harvest Inc., 7 Carol Avenue, likewise was continued. The clerk reported that the owner, Ian Martins, had told staff he would pick up his license and pay late fees but had not completed that step; councilors noted possible catering activity from the Harvest kitchen and asked whether a catering license or appropriate health approvals were in place. Given the licensee’s limited engagement with staff and prior extensions granted to other licenseholders, councilors said they would give the owner another two weeks but warned the extension would be final. The council voted to continue the Harvest show-cause hearing to the next meeting (March 12).

Councilors asked staff to check whether the businesses were currently operating without licenses and to report back; they also asked the health and fire departments to confirm any catering or suppression approvals related to the Harvest site. In both continuances the council emphasized that continued operation without required licenses could expose the city to health and safety risks and urged licensees to resolve outstanding items before the next meeting.