The Public Service Committee of the Jamaica Plain Neighborhood Council met virtually on September 7 to discuss four licensing matters. The first two had to do with the existing BMS Paper restaurant supply store at 3380 Washington St. and its planned expansion, one was a wine and beer license request by Mike & Patty’s for 338 Centre St., and the last one was a request for an all-alcohol beverages license with take out for Ethiopian Cafe at 377A Centre St.
3380 BAR & GRILLE REQUEST
As part of a planned expansion currently in the midst of the Boston Planning and Development Agency’s (BPDA) Article 80 process, BMS Paper owner Bob Harrington has proposed a two floor restaurant with function rooms and a roof deck at 3380 Washington St.. The licensing request before the committee was for the transfer of a common victualler 7 day all-alcohol beverages license from Great Scott in Allston to the proposed new restaurant, which is doing business as 3380 Bar & Grille.
Though the restaurant is not yet nearing construction, attorney Carolyn Conway said that the team is seeking approval for this license now because Great Scott has closed and the license needs to be removed from the location so a new business can move into that space. She said that the proposed design for the restaurant is one the team is willing to be stuck with, and therefore are looking to obtain the license now.
Attorney Carolyn Conway explained that the entrance to the restaurant would be on the first floor, but no seating or bar service would be offered there. There would be 210 seats on the second floor, and the third floor, which includes the roof deck, would offer 116 seats total, including 46 outdoor seats. The third floor will also be home to three function rooms that can be combined if need be with moveable walls.
“This is in the heart of the [PLAN:} JP/Rox area,” said Christopher Tracy of O’Neill and Associates. “There is a public need for this. Bob has always envisioned this as a place where the community can gather” for things like baby and bridal showers, as well as graduation parties.
Architect David O’Sullivan explained that the restaurant use will be separated from the proposed residential development behind the existing BMS paper location, which will remain on the first floor.
Conway said that the team hopes that most people patronizing the restaurant will be residents of the neighborhood, and does not anticipate a large number of drivers coming to the area. The team is still discussing parking with the city as part of the Article 80 process.
Committee member Gert Thorn said he would like to see a traffic study before any approval by the committee or Council as a whole is made.
Conway said that the restaurant, at maximum capacity, can hold 484 people with the roof deck.
The proposed closing hour is 2:00 am, but Conway said it will likely be earlier than that and will be determined by demand. The roof deck would close at midnight no matter what, and she said it is anticipated that the restaurant would close between 11:00 pm and midnight Monday through Thursday, and they will “see what the weekend would bear.”
The team showed a proposed menu, which includes some higher end pub food like sandwiches and burgers, and said that they are looking into adding some more vegan and vegetarian options.
Harrington said his goal is to have a “moderately priced restaurant” so the average resident would be able to patronize.
There was a good deal of concern about the large size and capacity of the restaurant, and the project team compared it to Russell House Tavern, Capo, and Lincoln Tavern so people can look into how restaurants with similar capacities have operated.
JP resident Paige Sparks asked about designated pickup and dropoff locations for rideshare services, and Tracy said that they have talked with the city and are open to an option for that.
There were also several concerns raised about parking as well as general traffic and congestion, especially with several other projects slated to happen in the immediate area on Washington St.
After further discussion, the committee voted to “table the discussion” so they can find out more about how this space would fit into the neighborhood before taking a vote.
DELI COUNTER AT BMS PAPER
BMS Paper is also looking to install a deli counter at the existing store location at 3380 Washington St., and are seeking a common victualler 7 day license with take out so it can sell pre-made sandwiches, and Bob Harrington is the manager.
Conway said the proposed deli counter would be located on the lefthand side of the store, and would not offer seating. This license has yet to be applied for with the city’s Licensing Board, so there was not a time restraint on a vote from the committee.
The committee felt it was also best to defer a vote on this application as well, and voted to do so.
MIKE & PATTY’S
Robert Powers, Director of Operations for MA Brands, which currently operates two other Mike & Patty’s locations and one other concept, said that they are looking to open a Mike & Patty’s location in the former Sorella’s location at 388 Centre St.
The team is seeking a 7 day wines and malt beverages with liqueurs license and take out with a closing hour of 11pm..Robert Powers would be the manager of record. This would be the first Mike & Patty’s location to offer alcohol, but the eatery is known for its variety of breakfast sandwiches and other sandwiches.
Powers said that there have been “no complaints of smell”at the Bay Village location, which is located within a “tightly packed community,” and he does not anticipate any problems at this location either.
He said that there will be “three large garbage cans on the side of the building,” which will be picked up seven days a week.
He also said that most patrons walk or bike to existing locations, as no parking is available at the Bay Village location.
Michael Gurevich, owner of Mike & Patty’s, said that they are a “food-forward group” and are not making it a goal to focus on the alcohol sales.
The team also said that branding is on existing cups and bags, and will be the same in this location, as that is a typical ask of the committee.
The committee voted to approve this application.
ETHIOPIAN CAFE
Chucks Okoli asked for a common victualler 7 day all-alcohol beverages license with takeout and a closing hour of 11pm for Ethiopian Cafe at 377A Centre St, Firehiwot Bekele Zeleke is the manager. There was not much discussion on this matter, and the committee voted to approve the request.