Beer Works withdraws application for Davis Square liquor license

[keithn.livejournal.com]

I don't see something I can link to, but according to an e-mail that was just sent out by the Davis Action Group, Beer Works has withdrawn their city liquor license application. This was going to go before the licensing committee tonight.

My assumption would be that they were aware that they were not going to be granted a license and withdrew. So those who opposed the restaurant have succeeded. I have no idea if there is any link to recent issues with the building facade, but my understanding is that that should not have been a major issue since they had planned to replace it anyway.

A big question on my mind is whether or not Davis Square will now see ANY of the 8 remaining city wide liquor licenses. The argument used by Alderman Rebekah Gewirtz against Beer Works would seem to indicate that will not happen. The implication would be that you will see no new alcohol serving restaurants or bars in Davis Square unless they buy an existing license - so the total number of alcohol serving restaurants and bars will not increase in Davis Square anytime soon (without pressure on Alderman Gewirtz and the licensing commission).

Comments

[wintahill.livejournal.com]

Unfortunately this outcome is not surprising. Somerville seems to be developing a very anti-business reputation. This article on patch sums it up pretty well.

http://somerville.patch.com/groups/business-news/p/beer-works-withdraws-liquor-license-application--for-now

[laryu.livejournal.com]

The Patch article doesn't really talk about anti-business sentiment, but I completely agree with you anyway. My business (non-retail or restaurant) is based in Somerville but at this point I wouldn't recommend it for anyone else. I also own and live in a home in Davis Square and tried to join the Davis Action Group but was never added to the group. It's very insular and I guess I don't look or think like everyone else. Shameful.

[francescadavis.livejournal.com]

I'm confident Davis Action Group does not discriminate based on what you look like or think. There is a giant button on the home page to sign up for emails. See: http://davisactiongroup.com/

Here is the actual form:
http://davisactiongroup.us7.list-manage.com/subscribe?u=19cb3d52de1bf7bd655e55f9d&id=bf94ac4b90

[laryu.livejournal.com]

The Davis Action Group willfully declined to include me in their meetings or mailing lists from the start. Your confidence in their motivations may be well placed; I don't have any insights into their actual reasons. But it's surprising that a neighborhood association would choose to exclude homeowners and residents of said neighborhood.

[ron_newman]

Can you post the e-mail or letter that rejected you?