Council Maneuvers Around Liquor Ban Near Churches for New Restaurant

In the hopes of being business friendly, the City Council this week scrambled to push through a liquor license for the soon-to-open Cilantro Mexican Grill on Reservoir Avenue.

The Mexican restaurant, which will occupy the former home of Efendi's, hit an apparent roadblock in its quest to get a license to sell alcohol along with tacos and burritos. 

It turns out that an old state law prohibiting liquor sales within 200 feet of a church was preventing the restaurant from getting a license since Woodridge United Congregational Church of Christ is 190 feet away from the new restaurant.

Although Efendi's apparently got a liquor license with no problem, the owners of Cilantro were facing the proposition of opening a new location without beer or wine.

But a group of local legislators, including the City Council, has taken action — along with getting the blessings from the church's leadership for liquor sales to go on.

Councilman Richard Santamaria said the law preventing liquor sales within 200 feet of a church is an old law and in this case, "we're talking 10 feet," he said.

Two bills are making their way through the General Assembly — one in the House, the other in the Senate — that would dispense of 10 feet so Cilantro can get the license.

Sen. Hanna Gallo of Cranston submitted the Senate bill and Rep. Peter Palombo submitted the House bill.

Santamaria said the issue needed to be taken care of quickly because the summer is approaching and if the council didn't act now, the matter could end up pushed to the fall.

"This is a chain with seven locations and we want them in Cranston," Santamaria said. "It's not really a rush, but there is a sense of urgency."

John Palmieri, owner of the restaurant, said local leaders have been "very expedient" and helpful in his quest to get the license. 

"Thank you for your help here," he said.

The council ultimately approved a resolution that asks the state to let Cranston opt-out of the rule prohibiting liquor sales within 200 feet of a church and a separate motion granting Cilantro the liquor license, which required full council approval because it isn't a liquor license transfer, but a new license above the city's cap on liquor licenses.

City Clerk Maria Wall told the council that she would send a signed PDF copy of the resolution about the church proximity issue straight to the local delegation the next morning.

City Council President John E. Lanni Jr. said the council's efforts are important to ensure Cranston is considered business friendly.

"We want to try to encourage businesses to relocate in the city of Cranston," Lanni said. "If we wait on this, the General Assembly will be closed and we'll have to wait until January, and that's not fair."

Cilantro first opened in 2004 on Weybosset Street in Providence.

Manager Kevin Silva said Cilantro has built a reputation for good food and quality ingredients.

"We do not have a freezer, can opener or microwave in any of our locations," Silva said. "We make everything fresh in our kitchens everyday. We soak our beans for at least twelve hours before cooking for an hour and a half.  This allows better absorption of all the nutrients in the beans and helps your body digest the beans easily"