Saugus looking at unused liquor licenses

SAUGUS-Selectman Stephen Castinetti is interested in about a half a dozen liquor licenses that are going unused, but reclaiming them is not easy.Castinetti said he received a letter from a new business interested in obtaining a liquor license but the town has none available. It does have several businesses that are in limbo, but that doesn’t mean the liquor licenses are up for grabs.”I think it’s incumbent on this board to look into these,” Castinetti said.Castinetti said he feels the board should support businesses that are struggling to stay open and could be improved by the addition of a liquor license. The problem is some of the businesses that have the dormant licenses are struggling as well and would like to hang on to the licenses.Wendy Reed, clerk to the Selectmen, said Wednesday the Spin Nightclub, Ballard’s restaurant, Oasis Restaurant, Tonino’s Restaurant and Iron Works Restaurant are all closed, but the licenses are not necessarily free and clear.Spin Nightclub closed several years ago but the liquor license was sold and, according to attorney George Gregson, an application to transfer the license has been filed and a hearing has been set on the issue for Jan. 6.Reed said the Ballard plans to use its license but is under an environmental clean up order from the Department of Environmental Protection. The license might be quiet at the moment, but Reed said restaurant officials have been very good about keeping the town abreast of their progress in meeting the DEP’s deadlines and moving closer toward rebuilding.Reed said she has heard that Tonino’s license holders have been in contact with a potential buyer but she has heard nothing further.Two licenses might very well come forward, however.Oasis, which has a full liquor license, suffered significant damage when a fire broke out in August. It was already under a show cause hearing on its liquor license for problems with violence at the club. That hearing was suspended pending its reopening. While restaurant officials have said they will reopen, insurance and construction problems have slowed the progress.Reed also said she’s received no application for a license renewal. That means all of the club’s licenses are set to expire midnight Dec. 31.The Ironworks Restaurant in the Square One Mall, might also forfeit its beer and wine license. Closed since May, Reed said she has no renewal application and has had no correspondence from the owners. The restaurant owes $4,000 and has failed to make a payment for more than a year.”I’m not making a motion on the issue I just want to put a bug in your ear,” Castinetti said during last week’s board meeting. “I think we need to address the inactive licenses to help other businesses.”