Cranston licensing committee delays liquor, entertainment decisions for Ralph Square business after residents object

The Cranston services and licensing committee on April 7 continued consideration of applications for an entertainment permit and a class B liquor license linked to a business at the Ralph Square area after multiple neighbors described persistent late-night noise, traffic safety risks and sanitation problems around the property.

Residents including Ethan Hartley of Lexington Avenue and Rebecca Hartley told the committee the business’s operation has produced late-night music, parking and trash problems that have persisted under the current ownership. “To grant a liquor and an entertainment license you’d have to clear a huge burden of responsibility,” Ethan Hartley said, urging the committee to withhold approval until the business demonstrated it would operate responsibly.

The committee was also addressed by several nearby homeowners who described live music running into the early morning, cars speeding near children, and incidents they said occurred in the business’s back parking area. “This is where residents have chosen to make their homes and to start families,” Vanessa Runlett said. “By passing this, you’re going to be driving away actual Cranston residents.”

Applicants said they are under a purchase-and-sale agreement and a lease and that they intend to take ownership in mid-April. The prospective operators said they own and operate other restaurants and asked for time to prove they would improve the property, comply with inspections and address neighborhood concerns. The applicants acknowledged they were not yet the licensed owner and that outstanding issues remain, including a missing fire-safety inspection and health and occupancy clearances.

Solicitor advice and council members’ questions focused on three specific procedural and legal issues: (1) the property has been operating without a current fire-safety inspection, (2) the applicants were not yet in full possession of the business, and (3) a potential proximity issue involving a place of worship on or near the site that could bar issuance of a liquor license if the church or school is within 200 feet of the premises under state law. The city solicitor said the church question required additional verification before a final licensing decision.

Council members and the solicitor urged the applicants to obtain the required inspections and to meet with neighbors to try to resolve outstanding complaints. Council members repeatedly said they were sympathetic to small-business applicants but would expect strict compliance with public-safety and licensing rules before a liquor license would be approved.

The committee voted to continue three license items tied to the location — the indoor entertainment license, a new class BV liquor license application, and a class BV transfer/variant — to the next monthly meeting, giving applicants and staff time to secure a fire inspection, provide Department of Health and certificate-of-occupancy clearances, and present documented evidence of ownership or lease status and any lien discharges. The committee also asked the fire marshal and city staff to follow up and to report at the next hearing.

The licensing committee’s action preserved the applicants’ ability to return for consideration but left the licenses unresolved pending the evidence and neighbor outreach the committee requested.

Votes at a glance - Motion to continue indoor entertainment license for the Ralph Square property: continued (roll call recorded as: Councilwoman Graziano — yes; Councilman Andujar — yes; Councilman Ritz — yes; Councilman Traficante — yes; Council Vice President Wall — yes; Councilwoman Haroyan — yes; Council President Reno — yes). Outcome: continued to next meeting. - Motion to continue new class BV liquor license application for the same property: continued (same roll-call recorded). Outcome: continued to next meeting. - Motion to continue class BV transfer/related license requests for the same property: continued (same roll-call recorded). Outcome: continued to next meeting.

Why it matters: liquor and entertainment permits directly affect neighborhood character, public safety and enforcement workload. Committee members said they want to see required inspections and evidence of responsible management before authorizing late-night music or alcohol sales.

What’s next: applicants were told to secure fire, health and occupancy clearances, resolve outstanding liens or bills if any, and to meet with neighbors; the licensing committee will revisit the items at its next scheduled meeting.