Woonsocket council rejects two 2 a.m. liquor-license requests, approves other license and routine city measures

Woonsocket City Council members voted down two separate requests to extend alcohol service to 2 a.m. on Monday, Oct. 20, rejecting applications for a name change and late-hours extension at 579 Front Street and for extended hours at Little Lena’s, 144 North Main Street. The council approved a secondhand-dealer license for Extreme Inventory at 136 Court Street and took up a series of finance and municipal votes later in the meeting.

Supporters and opponents of 2 a.m. closing times addressed the council during public hearings. Residents including Estelle Bubbles of Third Avenue, Stephen Weber of Woonsocket and Michelle Stabell of Ray Avenue told the council they opposed later closing times, citing public-safety concerns and police staffing. Council debate focused heavily on public-safety impacts and fairness across businesses.

Councilwoman Elizabeth Fox said she supported 2 a.m. licenses generally and described them as common in comparable cities. “If people want to come here and spend money, and they want to do it responsibly and safely… I’m going to say that this is my position on all of these. I support a 2 a.m. license,” Fox said. Several other councillors, including Councilman Kenoyer and Councilman Dubois, said they would not support any 2 a.m. licenses, citing police workload and prior incidents when late licenses brought problems.

The council considered AAK Inc.’s application to operate as Rhode Island Dolls and to extend a back-deck and parking area and hours to 2 a.m. at 579 Front Street (25 LC 34). After debate and a solicitor’s note that the council must vote the single application up or down as submitted, the measure failed on a roll-call vote, 6–1 (Fox voting yes; Kenoyer, Dubois, Gonzales, Harmon, Sierra and President Gendron voting no).

The council also held the public hearing on Little Lena’s request for a 2 a.m. extension (25 LC 36). Council members repeated many of the same concerns and again voted it down, 6–1 (Fox yes; others no).

Separately, the council approved a secondhand-dealer license application by Extreme Inventory (25 LC 35) for 136 Court Street, described in the meeting as a used-sneakers and clothing shop. That application passed unanimously, 7–0.

Votes at a glance (selected items from the meeting agenda): - 25 LC 34 (AAK Inc. / Rhode Island Dolls, 579 Front St.; name change, back-deck/parking and 2 a.m. hours): defeated 6–1 on roll call. - 25 LC 36 (Little Lena’s, 144 N. Main St.; extension to 2 a.m.): defeated 6–1 on roll call. - 25 LC 35 (Extreme Inventory, 136 Court St.; secondhand-dealer license): approved 7–0. - 25 LC 37 (renewal of various licenses including vending/food/mobile vendors): approved 7–0. - 25 O 59 (appropriation ordinance to fund Casapaw Community Center construction): approved 7–0. - 25 R 125 (tax cancellations): approved 7–0. - 25 R 126 (award for road salt): approved 7–0. - 25 R 127 (municipal financial advisory services): approved 7–0. - 25 R 128 (adoption of fund-balance and debt-service policies): approved 7–0. - 25 R 129 (general banking services contract to Centerville Bank): approved 7–0. - 25 R 130 (debt-collection services contract): approved 7–0. - 25 R 131 (authorize advertising for sale/assignment of collector’s deeds): approved 6–0 (Councilman Kenoyer recused).

Why it matters: Council members framed the 2 a.m. applications as a crossroad between economic opportunity for small businesses and public-safety capacity. Opponents emphasized police staffing and past disturbances tied to late-night establishments; supporters cited revenue and downtown vitality.

Council handling and procedural notes: The city solicitor advised the council that when an applicant files a single combined application (for example, name change, expanded deck and extended hours), the council must vote the application as a whole rather than partially amending it in the same motion. The solicitor also confirmed that if the 2 a.m. portions cause defeat, an applicant may reapply for separate approvals (but may need to re-advertise public hearings).