Benjamin’s Brewer granted amusement and liquor licenses; dancing limited until fire marshal and planning approvals

The Brewer City Council on June 2 voted to issue a City amusement license to MF Dream, LLC, doing business as Benjamin’s Brewer, 46 Acme Road, with a condition that the license be limited to live music without dancing until the applicant satisfies local land-use and Maine Fire Marshal requirements. The council also adopted a municipal recommendation supporting the business’s application for a State of Maine Class A restaurant/lounge liquor license; both motions passed unanimously.

At the public hearing the city clerk read an email from Kristie Rines, City of Brewer Code Enforcement Officer, explaining that music without dancing is allowed under state and local rules but that music with dancing would classify the use as a 'Dance Hall' under the Brewer Land Use Code, requiring Planning Board site-plan approval. Rines’ statement, read into the record, said the Fire Marshal must also issue construction and dance-license permits before the city could sign off on dancing. The city clerk read: "The Code Enforcement Department would support the approval of a limited amusement license for this business that only included approval for music with no dancing."

Richard Clark, proprietor of Benjamin’s Brewer, told the council he had not initially realized the full scope of the Fire Marshal requirements but said he had since submitted the necessary applications and emphasized his commitment to following safety rules and keeping customers safe: "I am committed to following all the rules because I wanted my customers to be safe."

Following the hearing, Councilor Soubanh Phanthay moved to issue the City amusement license on condition that the license be limited to live music without dancing until the required land-use and Fire Marshal permits are provided; Councilor Michele LaBree Daniels seconded the motion. The council approved the conditional amusement license and the municipal recommendation for the State liquor-license application by unanimous vote.

The council’s conditional approval means Benjamin’s Brewer may operate as a brew pub and host live music, but any dance events will require additional local approvals and the issuance of permits by the Maine Fire Marshal before the city will permit dancing on the premises.