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Sol de Portugal granted Class BV liquor license; entertainment request denied until renewal
Summary
The town council approved a Class BV liquor license and an outdoor-dining permit for Sol de Portugal at 1525 Smith Street but denied the requested entertainment license for now and said it will review entertainment at the establishment’s December renewal.
The North Providence Town Council approved a Class BV limited liquor license and an outdoor-dining permit for Sol de Portugal, 1525 Smith Street, at its June 3 meeting but denied the applicant’s request for an entertainment license until the council reviews the operation at its renewal.
Attorney Jeff Caffrey represented the applicant and said the operators plan to run the business primarily as a restaurant with background music; he added the operators have hired experienced bartenders and plan to keep the restaurant’s capacity unchanged. Council members raised questions about operator experience with liquor service and the location’s history as a crowded plaza with prior neighbor complaints.
Councilman DiLorenzo moved to approve the Class BV liquor license; Councilman Famagetti seconded, and the motion carried by voice vote. Some council members said a probationary license could be considered until December to allow the council to assess operations; others noted the business has already made significant investments and that the council can address problems at renewal. The council did not place explicit probationary conditions on the initial issuance but flagged renewal-season review.
On entertainment, council members said background music during dinner is acceptable but voiced concern about DJ or live acts in a plaza that has caused neighbor complaints in the past. The council voted to deny the requested entertainment license now and to revisit the request at the December renewal process; background recorded music or radio was permitted for dining.
An outdoor-dining license was approved by the council without further restriction.
Actions
- Class BV limited liquor license approved (motion by Councilman DiLorenzo; second by Councilman Famagetti; ayes have it).
- Entertainment license denied at this time; council will revisit the request when the license comes up for renewal in December (motion by Councilman Martin; second by Councilman DiLorenzo; ayes have it).
- Outdoor-dining license approved (motion by Councilman DiLorenzo; second by Councilman Martone; ayes have it).
Council members indicated they would monitor operations and revisit restrictions at the normal renewal process if complaints arise.
