New flavors and an old favorite: Two license applications for restaurants approved by License Commission

The License Commission approved two restaurant license applications at its September meeting: one for a new franchise and one to reopen a temporarily closed restaurant at a new location.

The commission approved an application for a new common victualer license and a new manager for an upcoming bb.q Chicken franchise location at 137 Moody St. The restaurant chain has locations all across the United States. The Moody St. site will be the franchise owner’s 10th location in Massachusetts. The restaurant serves Korean-style fried chicken using traditional Korean sauces and seasonings. No opening date was announced. 

The commission also approved an application to transfer a common victualer license for Dominican Grilled Chicken, which will reopen at 657 Main St. under manager Marvin R. Belliard. The restaurant has been closed since a two-alarm fire rendered its former location unusable last November. Dominican Grilled Chicken plans to open on Oct. 12.

When asked what made the restaurant’s grilled chicken “Dominican,” Belliard said, “Flavor! The chef, he puts the magic on it. To bring everyone together.”

In other business, the license commission:

• Approved 14 one-day all alcohol permit requests from Ken Levine for football and hockey events at Bentley University. The commission also discussed a pre-approved one-day all alcohol permit for a career fair alumni reception at Bentley University on Sept. 22. Permits are pre-approved via phone voice vote when requests are submitted late, and the event will take place before the next meeting.
• Approved a request for a one-day all alcohol permit from director Chloe-Rose Crouch of the Community Day Center of Waltham for its annual fundraising event at the Gore Estate on Oct. 29.
• Moved an application for change of manager for the Hampton Inn and Suites on Second Avenue to their October meeting, as the new manager did not attend the meeting.
• Approved an application for change of manager for the Embassy Suites on Winter Street.
• Discussed an Aug. 29 incident at Shopper’s Cafe. Co-owner Lauren LaCava Bibbo was present while the incident was discussed. A male patron in the restaurant started yelling racial slurs and was asked to leave. He drank half a beer, which staff took away from him once he became aggressive. When police arrived, the man was unsteady on his feet, had glassy eyes and smelled of alcohol. He was placed into protective custody. In the police report, the bartender’s statement differed from the statement given by the Shopper’s Cafe co-owner and Ward 5 Councilor Joey LaCava to police. LaCava wasn’t present on the night of the incident. Due to the discrepancy in reports, the commission voted to put the incident on file. LaCava arrived after the meeting ended and privately met with commission members to discuss the incident after the general meeting adjourned.
• Discussed an incident that took place outside of the 7/11 on Moody Street on Sept. 6. The people involved were patrons at Franco’s Pizzeria and Pub beforehand, so owner Thomas Collins was present. The patrons argued in the bar and, despite each person leaving several minutes apart, got into a second verbal altercation in front of the 7/11.  This resulted in one of the males being punched several times. The male refused medical attention. It was determined that the two patrons were not overserved. The commission moved to dismiss the incident.