Quincy licensing board approves series of one-day liquor permits and restaurant license changes

The Quincy Licensing Board on May 27 approved six licensing requests and accepted minutes from its May 13 hearing.

The board granted one-day liquor permits for Porchfest Quincy on June 28 and for the Wollaston Hill Neighborhood Association’s Saturdays in the Park series in Safford Park in September. The board also approved a one-day liquor permit for a ticketed, 21-and-over relaunch event at Van Coffee Bar (May 31), a change-of-ownership common victualler (CV) license application for Linda Banh Mi LLC doing business as Banh Mi Boston, a change from wine-and-malt to all-alcohol for Olindy’s Quincy Ave Lanes, and a new all-alcohol restaurant license for Mirchi Nation at 13 Scammell Street.

Porchfest organizer Walter Hubley told the board the festival will run from 2 to 8 p.m. on June 28, shortening the event by an hour from prior years "primarily because on some overcast days it can get...wicked dark." Hubley said the event footprint will remain largely the same — Wollaston Hill, Squantum and Merrymount neighborhoods — with possible small expansion toward Forbes Hill, and that vendors and porta-potty locations are largely similar to previous years.

Hubley’s remarks preceded a motion by a board member to approve the request; the motion was seconded and the board voted in the affirmative.

For Saturdays in the Park at Safford Park, Hubley said the Wollaston Hill Neighborhood Association will present two live performances each Saturday in September, with a beer-and-wine vendor and a food vendor (Assembly Restaurant), and the same porta-potty configuration used previously. The board approved that request following a motion and second.

At the Van Coffee Bar hearing, organizer Cesar Tingjaka (identified as Caesar in his remarks) described the May 31 ticketed, 21-and-over event as a relaunch of Vang’s business as a Vietnamese coffee bar and an opportunity to showcase local design and art. The board approved the one-day liquor permit after a motion and second.

Linda Banh Mi LLC notified the board that the common victualler license with new management (proposed manager Linda Linh Nguyen) will not change day-to-day operations; the board approved the CV-license change due to the ownership change.

At the hearing for Olindy’s Quincy Ave Lanes, owner James Mazzetti said the business sought a full all-alcohol license to offer mixed drinks and canned products. The board noted an email from Councilor Ash supporting the request; the board approved the change in license category.

Magic Holdings Inc., doing business as Mirchi Nation, sought a full all-alcohol restaurant license for a street-level, 2,800-square-foot restaurant at 13 (also referenced as 25) Scammell Street. Owner Piyush (Piyush/Piyush) Shah said this would be the company’s third Indian restaurant; Councilor Ash again submitted an email indicating no concerns. The board approved the full liquor license for the proposed manager Piyush Shah.

The board also moved to accept the May 13 minutes and then adjourned. No members of the public voiced objections to any of the items during the meeting’s public comment portions.

Votes at a glance - Agenda item 1: Porchfest Quincy — Motion to approve one-day liquor permits for June 28, 2–8 p.m.; outcome: approved. - Agenda item 2: Wollaston Hill Saturdays in the Park (Safford Park, September) — Approved. - Agenda item 3: Van Coffee Bar one-day liquor permit (May 31, 5 p.m.–midnight, ticketed 21+) — Approved. - Agenda item 4: Linda Banh Mi LLC d/b/a Banh Mi Boston — CV license change due to change of ownership; proposed manager Linda Linh Nguyen — Approved. - Agenda item 5: Olindy’s Quincy Ave Lanes — Change license from wine-and-malt to all-alcohol beverage — Approved. - Agenda item 6: Magic Holdings Inc. d/b/a Mirchi Nation — All-alcohol restaurant license for 13 Scammell Street (2,800 sq ft) — Approved.

Quotes "This year's event is fundamentally similar to past years...we're running it from 2 to 8 p.m. instead of 3 to 9 p.m. Because on some overcast days it can get...wicked dark by then," Walter Hubley said about Porchfest.

"Vang is relaunching as a Vietnamese coffee bar...opening the area to design and art," Cesar (Caesar) Tingjaka said about the Van Coffee Bar event.

"We just wanted to change...to get mixed drinks and the cans. That's all we would be doing it for," James Mazzetti said about Olindy’s request to change license category.

Why it matters Alcohol licensure and one-day permits affect neighborhood events, local small businesses and vendors; granting these permits allows organizers to operate billed events and restaurants to expand offerings. The board’s routine approvals mean the events and establishment changes will proceed with the conditions and managers noted in the applications.

Meeting context The meeting was short and procedural: each application included a brief presentation by the applicant or agent, no public objections were recorded, and the board made motions and approved each item. Councilor Ash submitted written support for at least two license requests, which was noted by the chair.

Ending The board accepted the May 13 minutes, set the next hearing for June 10, and adjourned the May 27 meeting.