Taunton committee tables request to keep Platinum City Gaming open until 2 a.m.; Liquor Commission directed to review

The Committee on Police and License on Monday tabled for three weeks a request by Entertainment 1 Stop Shop LLC doing business as Platinum City Gaming at 294 Winthrop Street to renew entertainment hours through 2 a.m.

Detective McDougall told the committee that the business’s 2 a.m. entertainment hours conflict with a 1 a.m. liquor license, which would require the establishment to stop admitting patrons earlier and could trigger the need for police details when entertainment and alcohol service overlap. "If he stays home till 02:00, it'll spark a couple different things. It'll spark a... violation of liquor license," Detective McDougall said.

Owner Rashad Garner told the committee the business has operated "for, I think what? I've been out here 8 years now. We haven't had any issues" and said he had previously been told by the Liquor Commission that operations until 2 a.m. were permitted so long as no alcohol was served after the closing time. The detective and several councilors said the city’s bylaws require alignment between liquor‑service hours and entertainment hours and urged Garner to appear before the City of Taunton Liquor Commission to request a matching 2 a.m. liquor license if he wishes to stay open that late.

Councilors debated policy and public safety. Councilor Sanders noted a potential public safety benefit to allowing a post‑last‑call entertainment period for patrons to sober up before leaving, saying, "I could absolutely see a public safety value in having an entertainment license that extends further beyond the end of the time when alcohol is served." Other members stressed uniformity and enforceability and that the Liquor Commission’s December action to adjust the establishment’s entertainment hours to 1 a.m. must be reconciled with its liquor license paperwork.

Councilor Borges moved to table the item for three weeks to allow the applicant to appear on the Liquor Commission agenda and for staff to confer with the law department; the motion passed by voice vote. Committee members said the clerk would notify the applicant of commission meeting dates and that the applicant should contact Shannon Valentino at the City of Taunton Liquor Commission to request placement on the next agenda.

The committee did not change the applicant’s license at the meeting and will reconsider the matter after the Liquor Commission and law department have reviewed the records and the applicant has had an opportunity to appear.