NEWNC Says No to New Restaurant with Takeout Service

Due to several unanswered questions dealing with the vent system, parking and other items, the North End/Waterfront Neighborhood Council (NEWNC) voted 5-3 to oppose a request by Alvaro Sandoval to obtain a variance for takeout service for a new Mexican Restaurant-Tenoch at 1-3 Lewis Street formerly Nick’s Tavern.

Plans call for a 22 seat eatery with hours of operation from 11am-10pm. The establishment has no liquor license and Sandoval told the Council he is not seeking one.

The new owner told residents he plans to have his garbage placed in a dumpster and have twice a week pickup.

That didn’t go well with Council members and abutters since the use of a dumpster attracts rodents, becomes extremely smelly and all other businesses in the North End have daily pickups.

The North End/Waterfront Residents’ Association (NEWRA) supported Sandoval’s proposal at their monthly meeting in February.

Sandra Russo owner of LuLu’s  Sweet Shoppe, 57 Salem Street request to include takeout to serve ice cream at the bakery/candy shop was approved by the Council 8-0. The business was represented by North End Attorney Daniel Toscano.

The Council, also by an 8-0 vote approved a request by Billy Tse Restaurant, 240 Commercial Street to add seasonal outdoor sidewalk seating for the existing restaurant increasing the eatery’s seating capacity from 90 to 110, twenty of them outside.

The restaurant closing hour is 12 midnight 7 days a week. The owner was represented by Attorney Daniel Toscano.

A proposal by Chris Young to add a second floor to extend the first floor restaurant up one level was supported by the Council 5-3 but not without protest from many abutters that claimed noise from the open windows, patrons leaving the restaurant and street and pedestrian traffic on the small one-way street will be a nuisance to the community.

The opposition presented the Council a petition of about 80 residents opposed to a no second floor restaurant. The owner presented the Council with letters of support from the four major abutters.

The North End has fifteen second floor restaurants, five of them on Salem Street, according to North End Attorney William Ferullo who represented Young.

The owner based on community request made changes to his plans including the roof deck will not be used for patrons.

The next NEWNC monthly meeting will be held on Monday, April 8 at 7pm in the Nazzaro Community Center.