The Southborough Select Board on Jan. 6 approved a liquor license application and a common victualler license for Lalo's Mexican Kitchen and Bar, a new restaurant planned for a two-entrance building in town.

During a public hearing, the applicant (Speaker 1) said the project will keep the physical structure of the building and perform interior upgrades. "It's gonna be called, Lalo's Mexican Kitchen and Bar," Speaker 1 said, adding the owners already operate Lalo's Mexican Restaurant in Hudson and Lalo's in Marlborough and "have never had their licenses revoked" and will ensure all servers are TIPS-trained.

Several residents and business neighbors voiced support. Speaker 4, who said their office is next door, offered to help the new operator with outreach to the lunch crowd; others welcomed the addition and wished the owners luck.

Following the public comment period, Speaker 2 moved to close the hearing and subsequently moved to approve the liquor license application; the motion was seconded and carried by voice vote. Speaker 2 also moved approval of the common victualler license (consent agenda item d); that motion was seconded and carried by voice vote. The board did not record a roll-call tally in the meeting transcript.

Board members asked about the expected opening timeline; Speaker 10 estimated an opening "roughly April." Town staff (Speaker 11) said licensing investigations can take a couple of months and staff would "get this moving right away." The applicant exchanged contact information with a neighbor who offered assistance.

The licenses approved at the meeting allow the business to proceed with necessary permitting; the meeting record does not list specific conditions attached to the approvals.

The Select Board moved on to other business and later entered executive session without returning to open session.