Dedham Selectmen Say No to Hooters

DEDHAM, MA - The Dedham Board of Selectmen have said no to a Hooters restaurant.

The board voted unanimously to deny the controversial restaurant a liquor license transfer from Summer Shack, the establishment that previously operated at the proposed location.

Prior to the vote, Selectman Dennis Teehan said the overwhelming opposition was among the reasons for the vote against Hooters.

"Whenever a business wants to come to Dedham, we will consider them. In this particular case, there are some important things we need to consider," he said.

Teehan cited a 500-signature petition against the transfer and the restaurant's hiring practices that may conflict with the town's equitable hiring by-law. Teehan also said the addition of another sports bar would saturate the area.

The town now must give the applicant a written statement for the denial. Once they receive the statement, they have five business days to appeal the decision to the state's Alcoholic Beverages Control Commission.

The statement is expected to be delivered by Monday at the latest.