NEWRA Zoning, Licensing and Construction Committee
Meeting Agenda
Tuesday, May 28, 2013, 7:00 PM
Mariners House, 11 North Square, 2nd Floor
7:00 PM – 7:15 PM
266 Commercial Street, Four Winds Restaurant, Thomas Gioia has applied to the Mayor’s Office of Consumer Affairs and Licensing to amend the existing Live Entertainment License to include Karaoke and Disc Jockey. The owner seeks to add Karaoke entertainment one day per week. Disc Jockey is associated with Karaoke and will also be used in the second floor function room. The current Live Entertainment License allows vocalist and up to 5 instruments, dancing by patrons and games. The first floor restaurant and bar has a capacity of 60 persons, and the second floor function room has a capacity of 100 persons.
7:15 PM – 7:30 PM
Strega Pizzeria and Cafe, 371-373 Hanover Street, Nicola Varano has filed an application with the Licensing Board for transfer of the Malt and Wine with Cordials License at Nick’s Famous Deli, 66 Cross Street, to 371-373 Hanover Street, related to the operation of a proposed pizzeria and café in the first floor space formerly “Casa di Stile.”
7:30 PM – 7:45 PM
90-92 Endicott Street, Barry Samuels has filed a zoning appeal to change the legal occupancy from three apartments and store to four apartments, an existing condition.
7:45 PM – 8:00 PM
NEWRA’s Updated Alcohol License Tracking Sheet. The ZLC Committee has collected updated information about neighborhood alcohol licenses, including licensee, type of license (beer/wine/cordials/all-alcohol), closing time and seating capacity. The Committee will review the status of licenses relative to NEWRA’s Alcohol License Policy.
ZLC News and Updates
8:00 PM – 8:30 PM
· BRA design review of proposed building at 244-246R Hanover Street (site of former VFW Post)
· MassDOT Selection Process for Parcel 9 developer
· BRA Downtown Waterfront Planning and Greenway District Zoning
· Government Center Garage Redevelopment
For more information about ZLC Committee meetings, contact David Kubiak, ZLC Committee Co-Chair, at 617-833-9564.
I’m surprised the GREED and CRIME guy hasn’t come out of the woodwork yet.
4 Winds has been advertising “late night” Karoke and DJs until 2am for years now. When their windows are open, they blast music that can be heard for blocks around. What happened, did they get caught operating without a license?
Ha, yeah…I’ve actually heard the music a couple times. Some pretty bad singers that time of night, too.
FYI the windows are never open during live entertainment. It is a requirement by the Liscensing Board. Furthermore the bands and vocalists we feature are extremely talented and are Berklee College students that fill our establishment to capacity. I am positive you have never stepped into the Four Winds in your life.
I have been in four winds. The beer taste the same as everywhere else. Why did you break the law by have karaoke and DJing until 2 am without a license? Why should your neighbors have to hear your music at anytime of day?
The problem with the Four Winds is that it’s a dive and the only reason to go there is for cheap booze because its open til 2 am. what’s particularly troubling is that its often the last stop on the way home and people then go to their cars in the parking lot across the street.
I would categorize it as a classy dive!
Again, I would wager that you have never patronized our establishment. We pride ourselves as a great neighborhood bar with an extremely well trained an friendly staff. The fact that we have been in business at this location for more than forty years speaks volumes . Also, almost all of our customers are North End residents and do not park in a lot . Try again !
I literally live right behind this bar, best bar in the north end by far. Noise has never been issue. Bring back kareoke Now!!!
Why did it ever leave?
THEY WERE SHUT DOWN BECAUSE THEY WERE DOING KARAOKE AND DJS WITHOUT A LICENSE !!!!
Let’s not reward bad businesses that break the law.
Relax, it’s absurd you need a completely different license to have karaoke than you need to have entertainment. It’s the same thing!
Four winds is the best… To the residents who complain about noise then you shouldn’t live in the city if you can’t handle noise from bars and restaurants!!
Four Winds is a great bar that always keeps people coming back. The food is great and the selection of drinks is perfect. Everyone who came in for karaeoke loved it, not just because of the singing, but the idea of a once a week event that gave people an incentive to look forward too. It did not matter whether they were good or bad singers, because don’t you go out to have fun and socialize anyways?
They didn’t have a license to do karaoke or DJ and were caught red handed. Why should the neighborhood reward businesses that break the law?
The permitting scheme in Boston is so anti-business, layered with cronyism, and graft, it is just absurd.
The bar will remain open whether there is karaoke or not. Jukebox, JD or karaoke are all just as loud. Why should karaoke even need an application? What are they gonna have to apply for next? Distributing water? It all serves to employ bearaucrats that have to be paid for on our tax dollars!
Thank you Flash for your comments. I have owned and managed the Four Winds for decades, I have paid out more than a million dollars in real estate taxes, meal and liquor taxes ( 7% of gross sales ) per month as well as fees to the City of Boston for everything except breathing. I also would like to point out that a live band is paid between $350.00 – $450.00 per gig that we pay without charging our loyal customers a cover charge. As a bussiness owner I feel obligated to give back and allow our patons to have fun in a safe environment.
Never been to your establishment but now I’m going to have to give it a shot!
I was with you through a lot of this debate, but this “I pay taxes” argument comes off as entitled. You’re telling us that you’ve made millions of dollars (mostly by selling alcohol). You’ve paid your fair share in taxes. Good for you for running a successful business, but I’m not sure why we should feel sorry for you.
Or he’s saying that every time he turns around, the City is there with its hand out looking for more money. Case in point, having to apply (and pay a fee) for a different license to host a karaoke night.
First off, best mozzarella sticks ever….. I dont know what I will do if the city decides to require permits for those as well…
Karaoke on Thursday nights was an event that brought city residents into the North End. I can remember specific instances where we would get a small group to go down and hang out, maybe even muster up the courage to hop on stage, just because it was karaoke night. People to this day come up to me and say ‘John, a little karaoke at four winds tonight?’ and its so devastating to see the look on their faces when I have to break the news to them that Four Winds is no longer able to feature karaoke because they dont have a license. It also kills me that the people that wanted to go to Four Winds for karaoke end up going to karaoke elsewhere and not spending their money in our neighborhood.
The owners and staff down at Four Winds are some of the most kind, welcoming, and fun people I have encountered out of all establishments in Boston and they are there to work hard and make an honest living. For those of you who have negative things to say about this restaurant and are not in support of the karaoke license, shame on you. I find it funny how you have negative things to say about the businesses in your own neighborhood yet you sit here and complain about the city being dirty. Maybe if you supported local businesses they would be able to bring in more money to the neighborhood, allowing for upgrades and higher status, cleaner and more responsible residents and visitors.
p.s. I live a block from Four Winds, and have NEVER heard any disturbing, loud noise coming from the restaurant while either relaxing in my home or even just walking by. Now lets go down there and rip back some Fireball!! Shots are on me!! Well, except for you Fleet…..