Amber Hookah Lounge applications continued to July 9 after neighbors raise parking and noise concerns

The Pawtucket Board of License Commissioners continued public hearings on the Amber Hookah Lounge applications to the board’s July 9 meeting after neighborhood concerns about parking, ventilation and the potential for a nightlife-style venue.

Applicant Fares El Tashibi (transcribed as varying spellings) told the board he planned a hookah lounge with limited beer sales, “no hard liquor,” a small sandwich-style menu and capacity of about "15 to 20 people" indoors, expanding to about 24 if outside seating were used. He said he would install detectors requested by the fire department and that staff would be TIP-certified to serve alcohol. "I'm not gonna close anything," he said in response to a councilor's question about closing a curb cut; he described valet-style parking operations on-site.

Neighbors and business owners told the board they feared the shared lot and an ambiguous parking arrangement would displace existing customers and deliveries. Harry Kuzick, who owns a salon at 582 Newport Ave, said the applicant’s landlord had claimed 10 parking spaces but "at best, 5 parking spots" exist in practice and deliveries could block his lot.

Councilor Ruggio proposed continuing the hearings to allow the applicant and the district councilor to meet on site and for the fire marshal and police to review safety and parking plans; the board approved a continuation to July 9.

The board also continued the related victualling petition for the same business to the July 9 meeting so the two filings are heard together.