Selectmen Sign Off On Scorpion Bar

FOXBOROUGH, MA — Food, beverage, and even a scorpion bowl or two will be able to fly off shelf at a new restaurant at Patriot Place.

Tuesday night, the selectmen voted to grant the common victualler and entertainment licenses to the Scorpion Bar. During the original hearing in the spring, the liquor license was granted on the condition that the board deems the menu to be in compliance with the town’s liquor by-laws.

On the entertainment front, the restaurant expects to have karaoke on Wednesdays; a live act or DJ on Fridays and Saturdays; and football games on TV Sunday, Monday, and Thursday. There was some discussion about whether a Sunday license was needed or if a seven-day license was sufficient, with the board granting the seven-day license, and Town Manager Bill Keegan stating that he’ll look into if the extra license is needed.

Most of the time discussing the menu was spent on whether the restaurant could serve a scorpion bowl for two or more people in a 52 oz. glass. Attorney Kristen Scanlon said she believes the drink complies with a local by-law stating that no pitcher can be over 60 oz., but selectman Ginny Coppola said the by-law only applies to pitchers and not any container.

“I thought that was one of the things we were trying to discourage. A pitcher means we don’t have to keep asking a waitress for a drink. It’s not a container with 52 oz. A pitcher is a pitcher,” Coppola said.

Owner Ed Kane replied that the glass was actually half ice, with the other half consisting of juices and alcohol. It was also noted that five businesses in Foxborough sell or plan on selling scorpion bowls.

“You can argue that having a pitcher of beer has a larger impact than what you’re proposing,” Keegan said.

Kane said the restaurant would stop selling the large drink and shots an hour before closing.

Photo courtesy of Patriot Place / Jeremie Smith: