Council supports two license transfer/1am closure

-By Phil Orlandella

The turnout for last week’s North End/Waterfront Neighborhood Council monthly meeting wasmuch larger than usual.

That’s because NEWNC’s agenda has two requests for liquor license transfers and a change of a restaurant closing hour to 1am, seven days.

A request for transferring the Common Victualler Wine and Malt Beverage with Cordials formerly exercised at Eclano, 54 Salem Street to Damien DiPaola to open a new restaurant, Vito’s at the same sight was supported by the Council 6-3.

The license has a 1am closure. The new eatery will have a seating capacity of 68 and will be open seven days a week.

DiPaola has a garbage pick-up and rodent plan prepared and he plans to clean-up the area in front of his new business. DiPaola was represented by North End Attorney William Ferullo.

Renown Chef Marisa Iocco appeared before the Council seeking a transfer of the Common Victualler Wine and Malt Beverage License formerly exercised by Grezzo at 69 Prince Street. She plans to open a restaurant at 78-80 Salem Street called Marisa’s with a seating capacity of 40.

Iocco, who was also represented by Attorney William Ferullo, is seeking an 11pm closure on weekdays and a 12am closure on Friday and Saturday.

Iocco has a rodent control and trash removal plan in place and will also clean-up the area in front of the new eatery.

The Council voted 8-1 to support Iocco’s request conditionally pending other city approvals.

The last agenda item was a request by Jorge Mendoza to extend the closing hour at Vinoteca di Monica, 143-145 Richmond Street to 1am.

While the Council voted 8-0 to support the 1am closure several residents spoke against the request stating several reason including noise. Currently the eatery has a 11pm closure on weekdays and 12am closure on weekends. North End Attorney William Ferullo represented the Mendoza family.

The next NEWNC will be held on Monday, February 14 at 7pm at the Nazzaro Community Center, 30 North