As Deputy City Solicitor and Special Counsel for the City of Melrose, I was recently appointed Chairman of a new advisory committee to Mayor Robert Dolan to examine Melrose’s liquor licensing rules and regulations. Our hope is to make Melrose as friendly to new small businesses as possible.
While the safety of our residents and the preservation of our lifestyle and neighborhoods is what makes Melrose stand out among so many Massachusetts towns, it is equally important to help our businesses thrive and become meaningful participants in our community. State and local regulations are never easy for business owners to track and follow, especially small businesses. They can become so costly that they prevent a new entrepreneur with a plan from ever taking that first step.
One of the ideas presented is to lower the minimum seating limits for restaurant owners who apply for licenses. Since 1978, Melrose has limited itself to 50 seats for a beer and wine license, and 100 seats for a full liquor license. Being a small city with limited commercial space, this effectively prevents smaller restaurants from opening “bistro”-type establishments popular in other cities and towns.
We also will examine the requirement that a customer must order food to order an alcoholic beverage. Originally, the intent was to prevent bars and taverns from opening in Melrose, as opposed to table-service restaurants. We hope to hear from local restaurant owners as to how this regulation affects their customers’ experience, and their own capability to grow.
Please give me your own thoughts on Melrose’s rules and regulations. They can be found here.
I am very proud that Mayor Dolan has made the success of our local businesses a top concern for Melrose!
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