Taam China To Change Ownership?

BROOKLINE, MA — It looks like Taam China, the restaurant recently scrutinized following accusations that the previous owner recorded women in the bathroom without their permission, may be starting the process to change owners.

According to documents filed with the state Tuesday, Andy Chung is transferring all offices associated with the Chinese restaurant in Brookline to a person named Tai-Sheng Ying, of Quincy.

This comes ahead of a public hearing as to whether the town should revoke or modify the restaurant's Common Victualler license for the 2019 annual licensing period because of the accusations against the former owner. The public hearing is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. in the Select Board room on the 6th floor of Town Hall.

Brookline Counsel Patty Correa said the owner has not contacted the town about a change in ownership, but she expects to hear more about that tonight at the public hearing.

"The Select Board is going to hear the evidence of whether there's a violation of our licences and if so what the appropriate sanctions of that would be," said Corea.

The law that the Select Board will be looking at tonight is General Law Chapter 140 Section 9, which says:

If, in the opinion of the licensing authorities, a licensee as an innholder or a common victualler ceases to be engaged in the business he is licensed to pursue, or fails to maintain upon his premises the implements and facilities required by this chapter, they shall immediately revoke his license. If a licensee at any time conducts his licensed business in an improper manner, the licensing authorities, after notice to the licensee and reasonable opportunity for a hearing, may upon satisfactory proof thereof suspend or revoke his license or impose a fine; provided that, the fine for the first offense within a 6 month period shall be not less than $500 and not more than $1,000; for the second offense within a 6 month period the fine shall be not less than $1,000 and not more than $2,000; for the third offense within a 6 month period the fine shall be not less than $2,000 and not more than $5,000; for the fourth offense within a 6 month period the fine shall be not less than $5,000 and not more than $10,000; and for the fifth offense within a 6 month period the fine shall be not less than $10,000. An innholder who violates section seven shall forfeit his license. A licensee who is convicted a second time of the violation of any of the provisions of sections six to eighteen, inclusive, shall forfeit his license.

It's common practice in the state that any business owner applying for a liquor licence has to undergo a CORI check and can't have any felony convictions within the past five years.

Taam China is in the JFK Crossing neighborhood of Brookline next to Kupel's Bakery. Chung opened Taam China, a Glatt Kosher Chinese restaurant in 1997. At the moment, this is the only Kosher Chinese restaurant in a town with a strong Orthodox Jewish community and many who keep kosher.

A number of the Jewish community say they've been broadsided by the news that the owner, a man many knew well, is being charged with such heinous acts.

Catch up on the story that Brookline Patch broke here:

Man Secretly Taped Patrons In Restaurant Bathroom: Police

Brookline Restaurant's Alleged Peeping Tom Held On $7500

(For more information on this and other neighborhood stories, subscribe to Brookline Patch to receive daily newsletters and breaking news alerts.)

Photo by Jenna Fisher/Patch