Licensing board stalls Lynnway steakhouse

LYNN – The city’s three-member License Commission put the brakes on a proposal Tuesday to open a “99 Restaurant-style” establishment on the Lynnway.James Gasbarro, the would-be proprietor, told the board he hopes to create a steakhouse and bar with outdoor patio at 649 Lynnway, formerly the site of a string of nightclubs often in violation of city ordinances.Gasbarro said the restaurant would be named Monkster.”Interesting name,” said Commissioner John Pace.”I thought it would be interesting,” Gasbarro said.Under questioning by the board, Gasbarro and his attorney, John Mihos, said the building interior would undergo some cosmetic changes. Neither was able to provide details about the overall concept or on what nights a disc jockey might provide entertainment.Gasbarro emphasized that the focus would be on pub food – steak tips, burgers, French fries. Food would be served until about 10 p.m., he said.”I think you have the foundation of a plan here,” said Richard Coppinger, the commission chairman. “I think you need to come before us with a more developed proposal. I need to see a whole plan. I need to hear more than ‘We might have a DJ on some nights and we’ll serve food.’ A 99-style sounds fabulous. Another nightclub on that location is not.”Vincent Phelan, the commission’s legal counsel, raised concern about the results of Gasbarro’s Criminal Offender Record Information check, noting that while most of the cases were seemingly dismissed or otherwise resolved, the nature of the offenses are “alarming.”Mihos said the cases date back to 1991 and are closed, adding that he is awaiting court certification to present to the commission.”We could not vote until we get that info from the court,” Phelan said.Gasbarro told the board he formerly directed a trucking company and ran a restaurant in Chelsea. He requested that Monkster be open daily from 11 a.m. to 1 a.m., six days a week, and from noon on Sundays. He also floated a proposal to open for breakfast at 5 a.m. during the week.”There were some very serious problems at this location in the past,” said Coppinger. “How are you going to assure us this does not happen again?”The commission was forced to repeatedly take action against Club Tropicana, a previous tenant at the address, rolling back its hours of operation to an 11:30 p.m. closing and threatening to suspend the liquor license.Police officers testified Club Tropicana served underage customers, was overcrowded, dispensed liquor after hours, failed to register promoters, engaged in false advertising, and neglected to contact police or medical personnel when trouble broke out.During one fracas in a parking lot adjacent to the nightclub, nearly 40 people began fighting as a lone police officer sprayed the combatants with a repellent. Every police cruiser in the city responded to the melee, along with the department’s Gang Unit, Special Investigations Unit, and the Essex County Sheriff’s Department.