Woburn license panel approves Starbucks, church event permits and schedules Feb. 20 revocation hearing

The Woburn City License Commission on an evening vote approved a common victualler license for a new Starbucks at 373 Washington Street, granted three one‑day liquor permits to the Greek Orthodox Community of Woburn and set a special hearing for Feb. 20 to consider possible revocation of two downtown liquor licenses.

The commission unanimously approved Starbucks’ application after a brief presentation by Daniel Bridal, who identified himself as the company’s permits-and-licenses representative. “We hope to open on Friday,” Bridal said. The vote to approve the common victualler application passed 3‑0.

Commissioners also considered three separate one‑day liquor applications from the Greek Orthodox Community of Woburn, each described in the application as fundraisers. The commission approved the Feb. 1 birthday event (no fee-waiver motion recorded on the transcript) by voice vote, 3‑0. It later approved the Feb. 8 “Elvis Night” fundraiser and the Feb. 22 Mardi Gras fundraiser and explicitly waived the license application fee for those two events as motions recorded during the meeting; both motions passed unanimously.

A separate new common victualler license application for Sherry Genre LLC at 100 Sylvan Road (300 Trade Center, Suite 1410) was approved contingent on completion of required department signatures (police, fire, building, health). A city council member who spoke to the commission said the special permit that previously covered the space was nontransferable after the prior tenant left, and commissioners said they wanted the applicant to obtain all required signatures before the license becomes final. The conditional approval passed 3‑0.

The commission also voted to continue the Aracini Sanapo application relating to 46 Main Street until the Feb. 27 meeting at the applicant’s request; that continuance was approved unanimously.

Most consequential for the city, the commission read into the record correspondence from City Solicitor Mark Zaladi regarding the Dog House Grill and Taste of Brazil. The solicitor’s letter authorized the commission to sign and issue liquor license renewals immediately under an agreement with the license holders and stated that pending appeals to the state Alcoholic Beverages Control Commission (ABCC) and a temporary injunction in Middlesex Superior Court would be dismissed. The letter also notified the commission that the city would schedule a special revocation hearing. The commission set that special hearing for Thursday, Feb. 20, at 5:30 p.m. and voted 3‑0 to hold the meeting; Captain Murphy and the city clerk were directed to distribute notices and related materials to council members and others.

Actions taken at the meeting included approvals, a continuance and the scheduling of the Feb. 20 special hearing; commissioners said they would review materials provided by the police department in advance of that hearing.

Votes at a glance

- Starbucks, 373 Washington St. — common victualler license approved, 3‑0. Evidence: applicant presentation and unanimous roll call vote. - Greek Orthodox Community of Woburn — one‑day liquor permits: Feb. 1 (birthday party) approved, 3‑0; Feb. 8 (Elvis Night) approved with fee waived, 3‑0; Feb. 22 (Mardi Gras) approved with fee waived, 3‑0. - Sherry Genre LLC, 100 Sylvan Rd. (300 Trade Center Suite 1410) — new common victualler license approved contingent on all required department signatures, 3‑0. - Aracini Sanapo, 46 Main St. — transfer/new license application continued to Feb. 27 at applicant request, 3‑0. - Dog House Grill and Taste of Brazil — solicitor-authorized license issuance; special revocation hearing set for Feb. 20, 5:30 p.m.; motion to schedule hearing approved, 3‑0.

The commission’s actions were procedural and tied to routine licensing standards; the Feb. 20 special hearing will be the next significant public meeting on the two contested downtown licenses.

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