Worcester license commission approves one-day permits, manager and ownership changes; several items postponed

Chair Sharon Clifford opened the hybrid meeting of the Worcester City License Commission and said the body was operating with a two-member quorum for the session.

The commission approved a series of one‑day entertainment and liquor permits, and several manager/ownership changes, mostly by unanimous votes from the two sitting commissioners. Approvals included the Shrewsbury Street Italian Heritage parade one‑day entertainment license (Oct. 5), the Worcester County Walk to End Alzheimer’s one‑day entertainment license (Oct. 19), and a one‑day liquor permit for Tap-a-Truck (Sept. 24) conditioned on final food‑permit approval. The commission also approved changes of manager or ownership for a number of retail and restaurant licenses.

Why it matters: These routine local approvals allow annual events to proceed and transfer day‑to‑day management of licensed premises. The commission also used the meeting to identify items that require follow‑up — for instance, pending food permits, state paperwork and fire‑department reviews — and to postpone items where additional documentation or inspections are needed.

Most contested or detailed matters were deferred. The commission postponed several items (including JT Ethier and several restaurant matters) to the next hearings or specific future dates. A lease and ownership dispute involving Maya Lounge prompted the commission to postpone action on that license until the November 20 meeting so the pending superior‑court litigation can proceed.

Votes at a glance - Approve minutes of the Sept. 4 meeting — approved (Commissioner Cruz: yes; Commissioner Fisher: yes). - Shrewsbury Street Italian Heritage parade, one‑day entertainment (Oct. 5, 11 a.m.–5 p.m.) — approved (Cruz: yes; Fisher: yes). Applicant: Cheryl DeProspo, treasurer, Shrewsbury Street Italian Heritage. - Worcester County Walk to End Alzheimer’s, one‑day entertainment (Oct. 19, morning; background music and a short program) — approved (Cruz: yes; Fisher: yes). Applicant: Beth Whitney, manager. - Tap-a-Truck private event, one‑day liquor permit (Sept. 24) — approved pending food permit (Cruz: yes; Fisher: yes). Applicant: Matt Cohen; estimated attendance discussed: ~600. - Off the Rails — change of manager/officers — approved (Cruz: yes; Fisher: yes). Applicant: Chris Pissar (current manager); proposed manager Mike Blonias. - MB Lounge (d/b/a m b lounge) — change of manager — approved (Cruz: yes; Fisher: yes). Applicant: Markinet (owner) proposed manager Larry Boyd. - Austin Liquors (Ganat Singh Corp), change of officers/stock transfer — approved (Cruz: yes; Fisher: yes). Applicant represented by attorney John Aida; Jignesh Pachani present. - Basement (relocation/transfer and change in ownership interest) — approved (Cruz: yes; Fisher: yes). Applicant: Roger Bashoor. - Punta Cana / Savant Bar & Grill (restaurant sale/change of license) — approved locally with direction to complete required state paperwork and fire approvals; entertainment applications remain under fire review (Cruz: yes; Fisher: yes). Representatives: attorney Dan Cotton, Jose Palino, Ramsey Rodriguez. - Naomi (No Homey/Naomi) restaurant — food‑only restaurant license approved (Cruz: yes; Fisher: yes). - Multiple items (JT Ethier, Nahoni restaurant, Broadway restaurant, 570 Mill Street and other listed items) — motion to postpone to the next hearing or specified future date — approved (Cruz: yes; Fisher: yes). - Maya Lounge (LLC d/b/a Maya Lounge) — status hearing; hearing postponed to Nov. 20 because of an active lease/ownership dispute in court — motion approved (Cruz: yes; Fisher: yes). Parties included landlord counsel Paul Pellegrino and licensee Ashok Kumarikuntla.

Discussion and follow up Commissioners and staff clarified that local approvals do not replace required state filings or fire‑department clearances. Staff and Sergeant Needham advised that background checks did not reveal statutory impediments for several manager appointments. The commission conditioned at least one approval on documentation (Tap‑a‑Truck food permit) and requested applicants return with completed state paperwork where required (Savant/Punta Cana entertainment). The Maya Lounge matter was explicitly deferred because of superior‑court litigation between the property owner and a proposed purchaser; the commission recorded that the current licensee and lease remain in place pending resolution.

Ending The commission closed the meeting after taking the motions noted above and listing follow‑up steps (state filings, food permits, and fire‑department reviews) for specific applicants.