Tenoch Mexican opening blocked by city

[keithn.livejournal.com]

The City of Somerville, in their ongoing quest to turn Davis Square into a cluster of abandoned, crumbling buildings, is holding up the opening of Tenoch Mexican, acording to Tenoch's website:

UPDATE: At the June 15, 2015 Somerville City Council meeting, Tenoch was not approved to open our new location at 382 Highland Ave in Davis Square. Come show your support for Tenoch at an informational meeting on Monday, July 13 from 6:30-7:30 at the future Tenoch location at 382 Highland Ave., or at the next Somerville hearing on Monday, July 20 at 6 pm at Town Hall, when we are on the docket again. Help us get our new place up and running and satisfy your torta craving in Davis Square!

From the City's records, this was what was considered by the Licensing Commission on June 15:

Tenoch Mexican Food Corporation d/b/a Tenoch Mexican, 382 Highland Ave. requesting approval for a Wine & Malt 7 Day Restaurant License, a Common Victualler License, an Entertainment License consisting of Entertainment by Performers and Devises and an Alteration of Premises

Comments

[livejournal.livejournal.com]

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[frotz.livejournal.com]

Any report on what was found objectionable? The Licensing Commission doesn't ever seem to post minutes, though the meetings are public.

[fangirl715.livejournal.com]

Does anyone know why the City would reject it? Was any explanation or excuse given? Is it the business as a whole that they don't like, or do they not want to give out one of their precious liquor licenses?

[ron_newman]

Does the Board of Aldermen vote on these? (We don't have a City Council.) I thought the Licensing Commission made these decisions.

If Tenoch is on the docket again next meeting, I wonder if there is just some paperwork issue that required postponing the vote.

[prunesnprisms.livejournal.com]

Like referring to the Aldermen as City Councillors?

[teko.livejournal.com]

An interesting nuance to note: on their website, they state they were "not approved", but in their announcement on Facebook, they say that their case was "tabled". So it actually sounds a bit more like it was postponed rather than denied.

[jlauspitz.livejournal.com]

There is a limited number city-wide of cheap wine and beer licensesauthorized by a special act of the legislature . These differ from a full liquor license in that they revert to the City when the restaurant closes. There are several reasons to scrutinize a 7-day license on the corner of Cutter and Highland: it borders residential properties, there is a decades-long history of neighborhood nuisance at that spot, there may be other, worthier establishments elsewhere in Davis (Peppe Boca?) and the City at large, there are already three Mexican restaurants in Davis Square, plus others at Powderhouse and Porter and (soon to open) Ball Squares, so that there is no unique contribution that would justify jumping the queue. The knee-jerk reaction that the Licensing Board is overly restrictive is poorly informed-- they have in fact been cautiously permissive in granting licenses and late hours.

[teko.livejournal.com]

Unfortunately, I think the Licensing Board is poorly informed as to what Tenoch would be offering at their location. Having spoken to the Tenoch guys, they're very aware that they're looking at a spot that's a block away from Anna's and Painted Burro, and their plan was to offer items that aren't available elsewhere in the square or the area: besides their tortas (which are very different and much more authentic than the 'fusion' tortas at Painted Burro), they wanted to offer a selection of Yucatán street food that you can't get anywhere else in Somerville. They're most definitely a unique contribution to the area, and I'll do my best to be at their upcoming meetings to support them.

[keithn.livejournal.com]

Between Davis Square, Porter Square, Ball Square, Teele Square and Magoun Square, we have every type of cuisine you could imagine, so I'm confounded by these types of arguments. Tenoch is a torta restaurant, which is a lot different from the generic burrito joints all over the place (Anna's, Chipotle, Boca Grande). I wouldn't argue against Meju (Asian) because Diva (Asian) is across the street.

I live two blocks from the proposed Tenoch site and I have been excited for months about this restaurant opening, and I am incredibly disappointed that it probably won't open this summer, if ever. I want to make it clear that you and Davis Square Task Force do NOT speak for me and you do NOT speak for the community, only yourselves.

There's not a misunderstanding or misinformation here, if you have been reading DSLJ for the last number of years you would see that we are well aware of the liquor/beer and wine license/special licenses for Assembly Square situation, well aware of the licensing commission/ZBA/BOA, and as aware of the sausage making process as information made public by the city will allow (which is pretty little - we only found out about Roche Brothers pulling out after the city was forced to admit it when responding to questions about the crumbling building closing down half the square).

I'm surprised by your "nuisance" at that spot comments. The last two restaurants at that spot - M3 and Al Fresco - have served alcohol, and they weren't exactly party bars. And I'm not sure why the actions of those restaurants would have anything to do with Tenoch. What specifically happened there that bothers you?

Also - what DO you want to go into that spot?

[jlauspitz.livejournal.com]

As it happens, I have no preference about what goes on that spot, and personally like a drink with a good meal, but I do like to keep the discussion civil and informative. I am interested to learn that the proposed restaurant will offer something distinctive.

Point of Information #1: The Davis Square Task Force has been out of existence for several years. It did not take positions but rather provided a regular channel for airing information on developments of this kind. Live Journal has admirably filled some of this function, but cannot in the nature of its on-line format provide a) pre-exposure by new businesses and developers to test public sentiment before going to the zoning, planning and licensing boards, b) a regular updates by City officials, including police, health and fire, and Ward Alderman in a face-to-face format-- the City now does some of this city-wide under a less frequent Resistat format.

Point of information #2: The problems on that corner predated the two most recent restaurant tenants, as well as predating a third: Out of the Blue, which moved to a more commercially viable location on Elm Street. There are Cutter Ave residents and members of the licensing commission who go back to the days when that spot had a 4 a.m. closing, so that closer scrutiny is inevitable. There is in any case always more controversy surrounding establishments at the periphery rather than at the core of the business district, and especially in high turnover spots.

Point of information #3: Even at the core, the merits of the establishment do not always carry the day when there is a backlog of applicants for discretionary licenses, as evidenced a few years ago when highly regarded Ten Tables of Jamaica Plain was interested in locating on the plaza but was late in the queue for wine and beer.

Point of ignorance: I am not currently informed on what the applicant pool is like for wine and beer licenses, or what the market price is for fully transferable full-service liquor licenses Interested parties, including the business owners, will doubtless check this out.

[prunesnprisms.livejournal.com]

After all these issues with keeping a restaurant located at that corner, I'm not sure that part of the problem with that building isn't the landlord.

[achinhibitor.livejournal.com]

It wouldn't be surprising if the problem was that the space was too small, or otherwise was hard to put a profitable restaurant in.

[somerfriend.livejournal.com]

Actually if you've been to the board's meetings-they on average don't seem to be all that clued in or sharp, and they seem overly responsive to quacks who complain about nonexistent problems.

[ron_newman]

Out of the Blue was not a neighborhood nuisance.
Alfresco was not a neighborhood nuisance.
M3 was not a neighborhood nuisance (though it was a nuisance to the landlord because of unpaid rent).

I think all of these had liquor licenses.

Going way back, Dolly's/Kay & Chips was a nuisance at times, but it did not have a liquor license. It was open mostly during hours when liquor cannot legally be served, anyway.

I see no "potential nuisance" basis to deny Tenoch a license.

[canongrrl.livejournal.com]

I was going to bring up this point exactly. I would also add Dolly's had the best 3am steak and eggs ever.

Tenoch would be a huge addition to Davis Square.

[ron_newman]

I forgot Alex Pizza -- also not a nuisance, but it didn't last very long there.

[prunesnprisms.livejournal.com]

Not sure it's relevant but Al Fresco had wine/beer only. I dunno if that counts as liquor, though I'm sure you will tell me.

[mzrowan.livejournal.com]

A wine/beer license is all that Tenoch is applying for, too.

[ron_newman]

"beer and wine" and "all forms of alcoholic beverages" are two different categories of license, but the point is that there's a reasonably long history of alcohol-serving restaurants at that corner, which did not cause problems for the neighbors.

[jlauspitz.livejournal.com]

The "experts" on neighborhood problems to whom the boards listen most closely are the actual neighbors, who have been absent from this thread.

[jlauspitz.livejournal.com]

The new element here appears to be the proposed combination of a beer-wine license with a *full* entertainment license, including live performance, under the mistaken assertion (on their website) that they need it to play background music. A full entertainment license would be a first for that location. The owners' will have an opportunity to clarify at the neighborhood meeting.

It would seem obvious that the reason for delay is not that the city is "blocking" them unfairly from opening this summer, or that the licensing commission is "clueless" and overly indulgent to "cranks" (the three commission members, two of whom are lawyers, have been doing this for an average of ten years each) but that the owners have not yet prepared the ground with their future neighbors. They now have a chance to do so on July 13 and to adjust their proposal accordingly.

[ron_newman]

Perhaps the applicant made an error, but I'd love to see more live entertainment venues in Davis Square and throughout Somerville.

[achinhibitor.livejournal.com]

Yeah, but people don't like living next to places with live entertainment, because the entertainment generally goes on till midnight or later.

[katherine fiorello (from livejournal.com)]

We live 3 houses down (& have lived in this area for 9 years & Somerville for 14 yrs) with two babies and are actually totally BUMMED that this place has been delayed in opening. We think they'd be a great asset to the neighborhood, would love some tortas w./ a glass of wine & some music! We were psyched to see them potentially go in to Kick Ass' spot & then M3's spot. I am BEYOND tired & annoyed of these potentially amazing stores, restaurants spaces laying vacant & becoming decrepit blown out buildings. It's ridiculous & does not bring commerce to this area. It's such a humongous waste. I'm aggravated about Roche Brothers not moving in & now issues with Tenoch. We chosen to live in this neighborhood for 14 yrs because of the hope we've had in making this place our home. I've gone to many evening neighborhood meetings to show my support when my hub can get home from work to watch the kids & hopefully will do the same. I'm sooo hoping there will be loads of supporters there with me.

[ron_newman]

Last night's meeting was low-key and friendly and had delicious food samples. I don't think they'll have any trouble getting their licenses next week.

[teko.livejournal.com]

I didn't have time to say hi properly, Ron -- I was the guy in the glasses sitting up front. Was good to see you there!