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Council renews Kaibar liquor license; valet requirement removed by zoning board, outdoor deck excluded from renewal
Summary
The Town Council renewed Kaibar's Class B license 5–0, accepted the zoning board's removal of a valet requirement and directed the applicant to submit a service‑area plan for any outdoor deck before licensing changes are adopted.
The East Greenwich Town Council voted 5–0 on March 25 to renew a Class B alcoholic beverage license for TMG Main Street Holdings II, doing business as Kaibar (232 Main Street), extending the license through Nov. 30, 2025. The council also confirmed that the zoning board has removed a 2016 valet requirement for the business.
Town Clerk Lee Carney reported the application was complete. “The application is complete,” Carney said after the applicant was sworn in. The council heard that the zoning board approved removal of the valet requirement on Jan. 28, 2025, conditional on an annual affidavit beginning Jan. 2026 showing the majority of revenue is generated after 8 p.m.
Scope of this renewal: The council and the solicitor clarified that the renewal before the council covers the licensed interior service area only; an outdoor deck adjacent to the building was not part of the license package at this meeting. Solicitor Peter (last name on file with the town) told the council the deck is not included in the licensed area and that any service‑area change to include the deck would have to be submitted separately. The council approved the renewal “with no condition for valet service” and said that once a service‑area plan is submitted it will come back before the council for separate action.
Capacity, parking and enforcement: Town staff and the applicant discussed logistics. The existing capacity figure cited in the hearing was 57 seats; staff advised the council that parking variances are tied to seating counts under zoning rules. Solicitor Peter explained that if Kaibar keeps the same total number of seats and simply reallocates seats between inside and the deck, zoning relief for parking likely would not be required — but a seating map must be submitted and approved so inspectors can verify compliance. The council discussed enforcement options (licensing conditions, periodic checks by zoning or police, fire‑code capacity limits) and said conditions on the license could be used to regulate deck use if needed.
Applicant and next steps: Applicant Jason Kindness was sworn and addressed logistics for staffing and ingress/egress to the deck; he said Kaibar staffs ID checks and security and that entry to the deck is monitored from the front door. The council approved the renewal with the understanding that any change to the licensed service area (for example, adding the deck) must be proposed with a formal plan and would be considered separately.
Ending: Motion to approve the license renewal (with no valet condition) carried 5–0. The council recorded no objections from the public during the hearing and closed the hearing after the vote.
