Gardner City licensing panel approves alcohol service for Sawa To Go at 360 Tiffany Boulevard

The Gardner City Licensing Commission approved a local alcoholic beverage application Tuesday, June 25, for OUH LLC, doing business as Sawa To Go, at 360 Tiffany Boulevard.

The decision came at a special meeting called for a single hearing on the application. The commission’s chair (unnamed) called the meeting to order and opened public discussion before the panel voted. "All in favor? Aye," the chair said after a motion; "Motion is carried," the chair added when the vote concluded.

John Flick, attorney for OUH LLC, told the commission the owners — identified in materials as Kenny and Evelyn — sought the license after customer demand at another OUH location prompted them to request alcohol service at the Tiffany Boulevard site. Flick said the company had already obtained a lottery license for the former Sawako location and that patrons "wanted to play Keno," which increased demand for on-site alcohol service. "A significant need arose after they opened up the new location ... a lot of customers wanted to play Keno," Flick said.

Flick described the Tiffany Boulevard site as a counter-service Chinese restaurant that will continue to serve food. He said the floor plan attached to the application reflects the existing built layout and will remain unchanged. He also said the owners plan to allow some table seating so customers can eat on-site. The attorney clarified the business model differs from a separate OUH location that serves sushi: "No, those newer locations? No," he said when asked whether sushi would be offered at the Tiffany Boulevard site.

An unnamed commissioner asked about service style and whether the location would operate primarily as a bar; Flick and the chair emphasized the establishment will continue to serve food and operate as a restaurant rather than a bar. The clerk (unnamed) told the applicant team they must complete the city’s local license application form to finalize the local approval and to ensure enrollment for required renewals: "You will need to complete the local license application ... start one of those for me, and then we'll approve that also to make sure that you get your enrolled renewals," the clerk said.

Meeting materials and remarks referenced several licensing terms used in the hearing, including a "lottery license" and a "Section 12 license," and noted that local rulings on violations may be appealed to the AVCC within five days of receiving a written decision, as stated during the chair’s opening remarks. The commission indicated the local level approval would proceed with the applicant completing the required local paperwork; the transcript does not record a subsequent submission or state-level approvals.

The special meeting covered only this single hearing; after the vote the chair asked if there was any other new business and then adjourned the meeting.