Politics & Government
PZC Hears Application for New Restaurant at Former Friendly's Location
At its regular meeting Thursday evening, the Enfield Planning and Zoning Commission held a public hearing on a proposed liquor permit for a new restaurant in the former Friendly's on Enfield St.
The Enfield Planning and Zoning Commission held a public hearing Thursday for a liquor license application for a proposed family restaurant in the former Friendly's location on Enfield St. The public hearing was extended by the commission pending the applicant providing a floor plan of seating for the new establishment.
Louis Massachi of Longmeadow, MA has entered into a purchase and sale agreement with the current owners of the Friendly's. Part of the conditions of the agreement include the acquiring of the liquor permit. Massachi is seeking a class one restaurant permit which allows the sale of beer, wine, and liquor so long as food is being served, but is not a full tavern license.
Several commissioners took issue with an initial floor plan provided by the applicant which showed a bar centrally located in the establishment with 30 bar stools. Massachi informed the commission this was a preliminary drawing and his plans had already changed, with the new layout having a much smaller bar with approximate seating for ten.
Find out what's happening in Enfieldfor free with the latest updates from Patch.
“I would rather have a restaurant with liquor, rather than a bar with food,” said Massachi.
Massachi described his proposed restaurant as a family style bar and grill. He plans no structural modifications to the outside of the building. The building will be painted and the parking lot improved and re-striped.
Find out what's happening in Enfieldfor free with the latest updates from Patch.
Several local tavern owners spoke out against the application, noting there were five tavern style restaurants already in the general vicinity. Tavern liquor permits have distance requirement from the location of another tavern permit, but no such distance requirement exists for the class one restaurant license.
“We don't have definitions for restaurants, sports bar or Italian pizza, we regulate the type of use. While I sympathize with business owners. The commission's role is not to control competition. You can put reasonable conditions on the license but if they want to put TVs and show sports or what have you there's no specific regulation to prohibit that,” said director of planning Jose Giner.
Massachi agreed to provide the new floor plan for review at the next scheduled meeting of the commission on December 15, 2011.
Friendly's filed for bankruptcy in late September and closed several locations in Connecticut.
