Framingham panel approves transfer of 672 Waverly St.; commissioners require updated resumes and continued training

The Framingham Board of License Commissioners on Feb. 10 approved the transfer of the all-alcohol restaurant license and entertainment license for the long-running food-and-drink venue at 672 Waverly Street, subject to conditions the board said are necessary because the application contained incomplete work histories for the proposed manager and assistant manager.

The board heard from attorney Kenneth B. Phillips on behalf of the buyer, who identified the proposed manager as Gabriel O'Kingsbury and the proposed assistant manager as Wesley J. Da Silva. Lieutenant McCarthy of the Framingham Police Department said he had reviewed the applicants’ recent on-site training and did not object to the transfer, but commissioners pressed for more detailed, written histories because the application forms listed “self-employed” in places and omitted specific restaurant-service dates.

"I don't object to the license being approved," Lieutenant McCarthy told the board, noting that both applicants had attended the city's TIP (training for servers) seminar and that he had discussed operations and common violations with them. Landlord Philip Ottaviani, who appeared in support, said the tenants had shadowed the outgoing operator and that the landlord planned to act as a resource during the opening period; Ottaviani also said tenants had agreed to track noise levels for the function room to be good neighbors.

Why it matters: the transfer is for a large, multiroom establishment the board described as having several seating areas and a function room; the board sought written evidence of on-the-job alcohol-service experience to preserve a clear public record and to avoid later challenges at the ABCC.

Key conditions and commitments

- Applicants agreed to update their applications/resumes to list specific alcohol-service and restaurant-management experience and to submit those updates to the licensing coordinator before the city forwards the transfer to the Massachusetts Alcoholic Beverages Control Commission (ABCC). - Lieutenant McCarthy offered to conduct a walkthrough of the premises with the new managers and to continue on-site training; the applicants agreed to continue training until ABCC approval is issued. - The board required each named manager on the license to commit to a minimum of 40 hours per week at the premises.

Motion, hours and entertainment

Commissioner Laura Medrano read the motion to approve the transfer of the all-alcohol restaurant license (current owner: 135 Restaurant and Lounge LLC; proposed owner: 135 Bar Restaurant and Lounge Corp., DBA "Capy") at 672 Waverly Street, with proposed hours Sunday–Saturday 11 a.m. to 1 a.m. and proposed entertainment hours Wednesday–Saturday (application packet listed 7 p.m.–12 a.m.). The board approved the transfer 5–0, with the standard condition that payment of taxes and fees and required departmental approvals must be complete.

Board members repeatedly emphasized the need to correct and file the applicants' resume details before the city forwards the file to the ABCC. Licensing staff confirmed they would not send the application to the ABCC until those updates are received.

The board closed the hearing by congratulating the applicants but stressing that the city expects clear, truthful applications and continued engagement with police and licensing staff during the startup period.

The decision was unanimous. The board recorded the conditions in the licensing file and instructed staff to track the agreed training and documentation updates.