Fall River licensing board approves multiple permits, conditionally clears boxing event pending inspection

The Fall River Licensing Board on Wednesday, March 19, 2025, approved a slate of one‑day liquor and entertainment permits, multiple Class 2 auto‑dealership licenses and manager changes, and tabled an alteration‑of‑premises request for La Conquista Lounge until its April meeting.

The board gave conditional approval for a one‑day liquor permit for Boston Boxing Promotions’ March 29, 2025 card, requiring a building department certificate of inspection that specifies the event capacity. Chair Greg Brilliant said the permit would proceed “subject to the issuance of your certificate of inspection relative to the capacity.” The promoter, Nicholas DeSalvo, was told to secure the inspection as soon as possible and that the building department’s hours require morning scheduling for inspectors.

Why it matters: the board’s requirement for a certificate addresses public‑safety and fire‑safety concerns raised at the meeting about how many people can safely occupy the boxing venue when a ring is in place. The issue prompted the lengthiest discussion of the night and led the board to condition approval on a building inspection rather than deny the event outright.

Most important decisions and motions

- The board tabled an alteration‑of‑premises application for La Conquista Lounge, 227 South Main St., until the April meeting to allow the applicant to obtain complete building‑inspector clearance and satisfy items the inspector requested.

- The board approved one‑day liquor permits for Saint Anthony of Padua Church for June 7–8 and amended the petition on the record to also include June 14–15, 2025.

- Boston Boxing Promotions (March 29, 2025) received a one‑day liquor permit on the condition that the applicant produce a certificate of inspection from the building department that sets the allowable capacity for the space with the ring in place.

Other approvals and routine business

- The board granted an entertainment license to Viva Fall River for weekly Thursday outdoor music/market activations on the property at 38 Granite Street (requested June 12–September 18; performances 4–8 p.m., weather permitting).

- Change‑of‑manager applications were approved for the Portuguese Midday Dance Club (manager John A. Da Silva) and Fall River Sports Club (manager Carlos Faria).

- The board approved multiple Class 2 (used‑car dealer/wholesale) licenses, including Formula 1 Wholesale (56 North Main St., Suite 220), Caspian Motor Corp (103 Broadway), Automania Car Sales and Rental Inc. DBA Go Car Auto Sales & Rental (2238 South Main St.), and others recorded on the agenda.

- Several common victualler (food service) license transfers and openings were approved, including Globe Donuts LLC (499 Globe St.) and Mona Lisa Kitchen (241 Jefferson St.).

Discussion highlights and clarifications

- Occupancy disagreement: Board members and the promoter discussed several occupancy figures. The promoter said he had printed 400 tickets; he provided the board with a recent event inspection certificate that listed total occupant counts for prior events. Board members and staff cited differing recollections of the building department’s allowable occupancy for the ring room (references to 200 and to a 413 figure were made during the discussion). The board declined to make a final call and instead required an updated certificate from the building department so the permit holder would be bound by the department’s formal capacity finding.

- Inspections and scheduling: Board staff advised the promoter to schedule the building inspection as soon as possible (inspectors may need a morning appointment) and to bring the valid certificate before the event so the one‑day liquor permit would be effective.

Votes at a glance: - La Conquista Lounge (alteration of premises): motion to table to April — tabled (motion made on the record). - Saint Anthony of Padua Church (one‑day liquor permits for June 7–8; amended to include June 14–15, 2025): approved (motion recorded). - Boston Boxing Promotions (one‑day liquor permit for March 29, 2025): approved subject to issuance of a building department certificate of inspection specifying capacity (motion recorded). - Viva Fall River (entertainment license, Thursdays June 12–Sept. 18): approved (motion recorded). - Portuguese Midday Dance Club (change of manager to John A. Da Silva): approved (motion recorded). - Fall River Sports Club (change of manager to Carlos Faria): approved (motion recorded). - Class 2 licenses (Formula 1 Wholesale; Caspian Motor Corp; Automania Car Sales & Rental Inc. DBA Go Car Auto Sales & Rental; others on the agenda): approved (motions recorded). - Common victualler licenses and transfers (including Globe Donuts LLC; ILH/EU Donuts; Mona Lisa Kitchen): approved (motions recorded).

Procedure and next steps

- For events requiring an occupancy determination, permit holders must obtain a certificate of inspection from the city building department (inspectors named during the meeting included Glenn and Eugene; the board directed applicants to coordinate with the building department). The board indicated it would hold items or set a special meeting only if applicants could not secure necessary clearances in time.

- The board approved the February minutes and adjourned after completing the agenda.

The meeting opened with Chair Greg Brilliant and members Michael Pereira and Melanie Cordero present and closed without public comment other than applicants and petitioners. The board did not adopt new policy changes at this session but applied existing licensing procedures and building‑department requirements to pending applications.