Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the License Status Eviction topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Owner says she retains license but lacks access to Grafton Street bar; commission continues hearing
Summary
License holder Beth Jiroge told the commission she remains the licensee for the Grafton Street bar but says she was locked out of the premises after what she calls an improper eviction. The commission continued the matter to Nov. 20 and warned that a license not tied to a valid lease cannot be renewed.
At a status hearing on Oct. 23, Beth Jiroge, the license holder for the Grafton Street bar doing business as Bets (Stella and Gonyo LLC), told the Worcester License Commission she retains the liquor license but has been denied access to the premises after a landlord‑related eviction process.
Jiroge described a history of roof leaks and floor damage she said the landlord (represented by Prestige Property Management) was aware of but did not fully address. She said she entered into discussions in April 2025 to sublease or transfer the business to Julio Rivera; Rivera changed locks and installed cameras without a signed contract or a formal lease assignment, and Jiroge said she later discovered an eviction notice posted on the door and was prevented from returning to the premises.
"I still am the license holder. I just don't have access to the building because of all this," Jiroge told the commission. She said she has not been legally evicted in district or housing court according to her searches, and asked for documentation of service and eviction filings. City staff and the law department told the commission they had received notice suggesting an eviction proceeding had occurred; the commission said it would investigate and asked counsel to confirm the court record.
The commission advised Jiroge that a liquor license must be associated with a valid lease in order to renew. Sergeant Needham and licensing staff confirmed that the commission could not approve renewal without either a valid lease or a formal, approved transfer of the license. Commissioners continued the matter to the Nov. 20 meeting to allow the licensee, landlord and counsel to provide court documentation or a valid lease. The commission also advised that if an eviction is confirmed and the license is nonoperational, staff may request surrender of the license.
Commissioners emphasized that private disputes between a license holder and an alleged subtenant or purchaser are a civil matter to be resolved between the parties and in court; the commission's role is to confirm the license status, the existence of a valid lease and any regulatory compliance issues.
The commission recorded a continuance to Nov. 20 and instructed staff to notify the licensee about documentation requirements for renewal or transfer.
