Castinetti pushes for liquor license increase in Saugus

SAUGUS – The old Border Cafe building on Route 1 south has sat empty since the Mexican restaurant moved across the highway, and Selectman Stephen Castinetti fears it will remain that way unless the town obtains a few new liquor licenses.”I have always impressed that Saugus, with Route 1, is in a unique situation,” Castinetti said. “Unfortunately the state gives out (liquor) licenses based on population, but our 26,000 is not indicative of a normal town of 26,000.”The town has 26 liquor licenses plus one that is earmarked solely for the Square One Mall, but considering the fact that a major highway cuts a swath through the middle of the town, Castinetti said 26 licenses is not enough.”We have to start to realize the potential of Route 1,” he said. “Everything is working against us, our zoning bylaws, liquor licenses, no one is looking to put a bar on every corner, but no hotel or restaurant is going to come here because they can’t get a liquor license.”If a casino comes to the area, whether it is Revere or Everett, Saugus will be in its path for those traveling from the north, Castinetti said. The town cannot compete if it can’t attract business to Route 1 for lack of liquor licenses.And he is willing to start small.”I’m looking for two,” he said.He would like to be able to offer potential buyers of the defunct Border Cafe, which has sat empty for about five years, a license to go with the property. He said he would also like to be able to offer Carmaleno’s Pushcart Restaurant on Main Street a license, he said. He called the owners patient and passionate but said he worried they wouldn’t wait forever.It is not the first time Castinetti has sought to increase the number of available licenses in the town. A few years ago Castinetti boldly proposed asking for 10 new liquor licenses but reduced the number to two. The initiative died in the State House, however, when it failed to receive needed support.When asked if he was at all concerned that an increase in liquor licenses might lead to an increase in nightclubs, Castinetti said nightclubs were never the issue in Saugus.The Palace, Tabu Ultra Lounge and Nightclub, Oasis, Jin Restaurant and Catering, Orchid Nightclub and Maddy’s Bar & Grille each lived along Route 1 at one point and each spent untold hours before the Board of Selectmen for show cause hearings due to violent incidents that took place at each establishment.”People made liquor the issue, but, in my opinion, it was an entertainment issue,” he said.Castinetti, and others, have often argued that certain entertainment brings a certain clientele.When Sully C’s Bar & Grill, which occupies the Route 1 north site once home to Tabu, recently came before the board seeking an entertainment license, Castinetti said “they went through the third degree.” He said the board wanted to make sure the restaurant’s owner knew it would be closely monitored.”No liquor licenses leads to no new restaurants … do we resign ourselves to used car lots?” he asked. “That nice comfortable tax rate we have here, I think liquor licenses would help keep that. How do we compete otherwise?”