Dewey’s Jazz Lounge renewal continued after owner says landlord’s unpaid taxes left business covering $92,000

Dewey’s Jazz Lounge’s liquor-license renewal was continued until April 23, 2025, after the venue’s manager and counsel told the Springfield Licensing Commission that the restaurant-and-music venue has paid roughly $92,000 in property taxes and business-improvement-district fees because its landlord failed to keep other properties current.

Mark Esposito, counsel for Power Entertainment LLC, the licensee for Dewey’s at 232 Worthington Street, asked the commission to use discretion allowed under a local ordinance and renew the license despite outstanding taxes tied to the landlord. "We are asking that the board or the licensing authority exercise the discretion that it's given under the relevant city ordinance to allow the liquor license associated with Dewey's Jazz Lounge to be renewed," Esposito said, adding the payments dated back to Dec. 30, 2022 and included properties the tenant does not own.

Esposito said city records show the tenant or agents acting on its behalf paid a little over $92,000 for property taxes and BID fees for parcels including…