SAUGUS — For now, the Board of Selectmen appears to be taking a “wait-and-see” approach to any potential action in response to the brawl that broke out at Kowloon last week.
Board Chairman Debra Panetta said members would wait to hear a report from the Police Department, acting as liquor agents, on the details of the fight before making any decision on the iconic restaurant’s liquor license. As the town’s licensing board, the selectmen could opt to suspend or revoke Kowloon’s liquor license in the wake of the fight if they determine the terms of the license were violated.
“When we have an incident and violation of the liquor rules and regulations from an establishment, the police provide a separate and specific report to the Board of Selectmen for review,” Panetta said in an email Monday. “We are expecting this report from the Police Department, and the board will take appropriate action at that time, depending on the findings of the report.”
Jeff Cicolini, the board’s vice chair, cautioned against rushing to judgment on the issue, noting that a fight breaking out at a restaurant or bar is not in and of itself a license violation.
“Although the incident was unfortunate, I would like to read the Police Department’s account of the situation and see if there were any violations that actually warrant action,” he said.
Selectman Corinne Riley echoed both Panetta and Cicolini, saying board members should wait for the facts to come forward before taking any action.
“We will take action when we receive the report from the chief,” said Riley, who at one point served as campaign manager for Donald Wong, whose family owns Kowloon.
The brawl inside the Route 1 landmark broke out on Thanksgiving eve when a line of hundreds waited in the cold to get a pre-Thanksgiving meal at the restaurant. At around 10:30 p.m. that night, Saugus police responded to the restaurant for a report of a fight in progress.
Six police officers working a detail inside the restaurant responded and were able to “quickly … de-escalate the situation,” Police Chief Michael Ricciardelli said in a statement. After the fight, management opted to close the restaurant and bar early.
Several young men were detained in the wake of the brawl but not arrested, as police were focused on providing medical treatment to those who needed it. Videos of the fight circulating on social media show a group of people wrestling in the restaurant’s bar area and punches being thrown before one man with a bloodied face is tackled to the ground by a police officer. Another shows a woman hitting a man over the head with a glass bottle that shatters on impact.
Ricciardelli said charges may be forthcoming for the individuals involved in the fight.
“The Kowloon is a family-friendly restaurant, unfortunately, a few unruly patrons ruined a nice evening for many others,” Ricciardelli said. “A disturbance such as this on Thanksgiving eve is unacceptable and disgusting.”
Despite the incident, the restaurant has not skipped a beat — remaining open each day following the brawl.
Bob Wong, who co-owns the restaurant with his family, did not return a request for comment Monday.
