License commission approves Jairo and Souvlaki malt-and-wine license with signage and server training conditions

The Worcester License Commission on May 29 approved a restaurant malt-and-wine license for Jairo and Souvlaki, a restaurant at 2623 Chandler Street, subject to a requirement that the business post a sign restricting alcohol beyond the patio and that all servers hold TIP certification.

The condition arose after a commission inspection and questions about the narrow patio area. Joseph Duquette, an attorney representing Jairo and Souvlaki, said the licensed premises would cover the roughly 1,000-square-foot restaurant and its outdoor patio and noted a prior unanimous special-permit decision by the Zoning Board of Appeals that set neighborhood-consistent hours. The commission recorded hours as Monday–Tuesday, 11 a.m.–10 p.m.; Wednesday–Saturday, 11 a.m.–midnight; and Sunday, 11 a.m.–9 p.m., consistent with the ZBA decision.

Commissioners and staff flagged a safety concern: the patio configuration could allow patrons to carry alcohol out of the licensed area. Sergeant Thomas Needham of the Worcester Police Department and inspectional staff suggested a clear marker; the commission approved the license conditioned on a posted “No liquor beyond this point” sign and proof that everyone serving alcohol is TIP-certified.

Action: Motion to approve the restaurant malt-and-wine license subject to the posted sign and TIP certification was made, seconded and approved by the commissioners present (two commissioners voting in favor). The commission also noted that servers must be TIP-certified before serving alcohol.

The action clears the way for the new restaurant to operate with alcoholic beverages under the hours set by the ZBA special permit, subject to the posted restriction and staff certification requirements. The commission wished the proprietors luck with the new business.