Stratford commission approves bakery/event-space liquor permit with condition barring sit-down bar

The Stratford Zoning Commission voted on Nov. 13 to approve a special-case expansion and a Class D restaurant liquor location for 1398/1402 Barnum Avenue, the space occupied by a bakery that recently added an event room. The motion to approve the petition, which the commission amended to prohibit sit-down bar service, passed by voice vote recorded as 5–0.

Candace Jefferson, the manager who spoke on behalf of owner Leticia Husson, described the business as a bakery on Barnum Avenue that has expanded into the adjacent space to host private events — birthday parties, cake-decorating classes and small music nights — and said the liquor permit is sought so hosts can offer catered cocktails or hire a certified bartender for private bookings. "So our bakery is located on Barnum Avenue. We sell cupcakes and other types of desserts," Jefferson said, adding the menu now includes some lunch items such as personal galettes, sandwiches and pasta salad.

Commissioners and staff asked whether the business would operate a sit-down bar. Jay Hebanski, the town's planning and zoning administrator, recommended as a condition of approval that the location not have a sit-down bar and that any change to that arrangement would require a return to the commission. The commission adopted that amendment and approved the petition. The five-member vote in favor included Linda Mannos (Zone 1), Ewald Joseph (Zone 2), Harold Watson (Zone 3), Deborah Lamberti (Zone 4) and Lynn Petrocelli (Zone 5).

The commission noted that the health department — not the zoning board — will review and approve any full sit-down food-service changes requiring additional kitchen equipment or a different health certificate. The applicant said private events would generally be occasional, estimating owner-run events at about once a week at most. The commission closed the public portion of the hearing and took the item into its administrative session for final action.

The approval includes the recorded condition that no sit-down bar be provided at the Barnum Avenue event space; if the applicant seeks to add sit-down bar service in the future, they must return to the commission for review.