Residents oppose liquor and entertainment license at Rolfe Square; committee continues application

Neighbors of Rolfe Square urged Cranston's Safety Services & Licenses Committee on March 3 to deny or delay an indoor entertainment and victualing (liquor) license for El Laham restaurant, citing recurring late‑night noise, trash, engine revving and pedestrian safety risks near a dance school.

Why it matters: Licenses for late‑night entertainment and alcohol affect neighborhood quality of life, public safety and parking. Residents told the committee they have repeatedly called police about noise and disturbances and worried that extending hours or granting alcohol service will make problems worse.

Public comment: neighbors describe recurring disturbances Demitrius Palmer (spelled in meeting records) told the committee that he has made multiple noise complaints about patrons revving engines and loud activity outside the restaurant late at night. "They've been there past 2 a.m. constantly," he said, and described trash and power‑washing in the early morning hours.

Several other neighbors echoed those concerns. Rebecca Bernardo said she lives on Lexington Avenue and described a "serious and consistent trash issue" in the restaurant's parking lot and frequent loud confrontations. "This is not a business that has shown they care about Rolfe Square or the residents of Cranston," she said.

Ethan Hartley and other speakers said the site sits adjacent to a children's dance studio and that parents and children are regularly present when the business operates; they warned that adding later hours and alcohol increases safety risks.

Owners' response and procedural issues Applicants Hannah Kossafi and Charbel (last name provided at the hearing) told the committee they intend to purchase the plaza and renovate the property. They said the sale closing had been extended to April 1 because environmental work (removing two underground tanks) required additional time and permits.

Solicitor Christopher Malay advised the committee that, absent a completed sale and clear documentation, acting now would be premature. He also flagged a possible statutory constraint: Rhode Island law (cited at the meeting as R.I. Gen. Laws §3-7-19) can bar issuance of certain liquor licenses within 200 feet of some places of worship and requires staff to confirm statutory distance limits.

Committee decision and votes at a glance The committee voted to continue the indoor entertainment and victualing (liquor) license application for El Laham to the next Safety Services meeting so the applicants can complete the sale and provide outstanding documentation. Committee members said they had heard multiple resident complaints and wanted proof of ownership and evidence of planned improvements before granting a new license.

Votes at a glance (selected items from March 3 Safety Services meeting) - El Laham (indoor entertainment and liquor license): continued to next Safety Services meeting — outcome: continued (motion carried). - Classic Liquors (1358 Plainfield Pike): victualer/holiday sales permit approved — outcome: approved. - Cumberland Farms (additional victualer hours at 921 Cranston St.): hours approved — outcome: approved. - Max Foodmart (983 Oakland Ave.): victualer license approved — outcome: approved. - Kids' Empire (indoor amusement, 1400 Oakland Ave.): amusement license approved, subject to Department of Health documentation — outcome: approved (pending document). - Cranston Wine & Spirits (transfer at 1285 Pontiac Ave): victualer transfer/holiday sales approved — outcome: approved.

What the committee requested - Applicants for El Laham to provide a completed purchase and sale agreement, evidence the environmental/tank issue has been addressed, and any required state or local permits; the committee asked city staff to verify proximity to any places of worship before re‑considering the license. - For other pending new‑business licenses, the committee required production of outstanding state documents (for example Department of Health forms) before issuing final licenses.

Ending: The committee did not grant the El Laham entertainment or liquor licenses on March 3. Committee members said they welcome new businesses but expect applicants to demonstrate that they will run law‑abiding, neighborhood‑sensitive operations and to provide requested documentation before any license is issued.