Wine, Malt Beverage License for The Center Café Rejected

Citing parking issues and driver and pedestrian safety concerns, a majority of the Board of Selectmen voted against issuing a wine and malt beverage license to The Center Café’s owners on Monday.

This was the third time that the popular breakfast and lunch establishment has appeared before the selectmen asking for a wine and malt beverage license.

On Monday, a majority of the board (Stephen O’Leary, Michael Prisco and Joseph Foti) voted against the measure because of:

• A lack of parking

• Pedestrian issues

• Safety and traffic issues

• Neighbor opposition

• The previous establishments at that location, at 118 Park St., near Route 62, have not been open past 8 p.m. (the plan included expanding the restaurant’s hours until 10:30 p.m.)

• Nothing has changed since the last time the establishment asked for a license in 2009

Of those issues, the two that selectmen kept returning to were parking and traffic/pedestrian safety. 

O’Leary spoke of potential dangers of increasing traffic at the eatery coupled with the later hours of operation and alcohol. He said granting the license would “create a hazardous situation” to patrons and those driving on Park Street and Route 62.

It would create a “significant public safety hazard to the community… An accident just waiting to happen,” said O’Leary.

Prisco was most concerned about the parking situation. He said the owners have not improved upon the 17 parking spaces at the business since last appearing before the board four years ago.

Foti, who was elected to the board last year, was the deciding vote on Monday and called it the hardest decision he has had to make as a selectman. He ultimately voted against the license because of the public safety concerns voiced by the North Reading Police Department during an earlier lengthy public hearing in which the board heard from the owners, the establishment’s supporters, neighbors and town officials.

Though he too voiced concern about the parking, Selectman Bob Mauceri said those concerns weren’t enough to vote against the license.

“I feel strongly that there’s no other issue with the liquor. It’s really the parking. I don’t see liquor contributing to anything… I can’t find enough reason to say ‘no’ to this request at this point,” said Mauceri.

Selectmen Chairman Sean Delaney was also in favor of granting the license. He said he doesn’t see how granting the license would impact traffic and pedestrian safety, adding that he has a bigger issue with pulling out of the Christopher’s Market shopping area than turning onto Route 62 at the intersection in front of The Center Café.

He also didn’t think allowing the business to stay open later would cause traffic safety problems in the area. Dinner hours are more spread out than the breakfast rush at The Center Café. He didn’t foresee more accidents at the Park Street/Elm Street intersection if the license was granted.

Ultimately, a majority voted to reject the license.