Lenox denies request for extended hours at new bar

LENOX – The board of selectmen has said no.

The selectmen recently held a public hearing on a request for an annual all alcohol restaurant license for the newly-created Mazcot’s Sports Bar and Grill.

Mazcot’s will be located in the old Halpin’s Grub and Grog building, which brothers Anthony and Michael Mazzeo purchased from its former owner, Jeffrey S. Halpin, last month.

The Mazzeos are the owners of Mazzeo’s Ristorante on routes 7 and 20 in Pittsfield. The brothers recently sold the Pittsfield building where Mazzeo’s had been previously located for over 25 years.

Representing Mazcot’s at the hearing, Attorney Thomas J. Hamel assured the board of selectmen that, while the layout of the establishment would be the same as Halpin’s, the business would not.

“We do expect it to be a vastly different operation,” said Atty. Hamel, citing the experience of Anthony Mazzeo and the staff he planned to bring on.

He also noted Mazzeo’s good record on noise issues.

“Prior to moving to South Street, we operated in a residential neighborhood for well over 25 years…without ever ever appearing before the Pittsfield Licensing Board on a noise or disturbance issue,” he said.

The selectmen appeared happy the Mazzeos had chosen to open a business in Lenox.

“Your reputation precedes you,” said Selectman Kenneth L. Fowler.

The selectmen were leery, however, that the requested hours of operation were from 11 a.m. to 2 a.m. Most establishments in Lenox have hours of operation that end at 1 a.m.

Atty. Hamel drew attention to this difference himself and said they were asking for expanded hours of operation in order to stay open under special circumstances, such as a west coast playoffs game.

“We will never be a last call bar,” said Atty. Hamel, asserting Mazcot’s did not intend to use the later hours regularly and would have everyone out by 2 a.m. even when they did. “We’d ask for the courtesy of having that flexibility.”

Selectman John McNinch noted a previous board of selectmen had chosen to change the hours of operation across the town to 1 a.m., while grandfathering in the two institutions that had a 2 a.m. hour of operation: Cranwell and The Five Chairs. Neither establishment takes advantage of this hour of operation currently.

“I’m a little concerned it’s going to open up a lot of requests,” said Selectman Edward P. Lane, whose unease at the prospect was mirrored by his fellow selectmen.

Chairman W. David Roche said he was worried about people driving from a 1 a.m. last call in the village to a 2 a.m. last call at Mazcot’s.

“That’s not what I want to see,” he said.

“We will be closing much earlier,” said Atty. Hamel, reiterating the later closing time would be used solely in the instance of key sports games on the west coast.

“I’d rather stick with the one o’clock,” said Chairman Roche, who also checked if special licenses could be given out for such occasions and was told that was not the case.

The atmosphere between Atty. Hamel and the selectmen remained cordial throughout this discussion.

“There’s some operators in town we wouldn’t even be discussing this [with],” said Chairman Roche. “But because of the reputation that your folks have, we are discussing it.”

“Thank you,” said Atty. Hamel.

In the end, the selectmen amended the request to give Mazcot’s hours of operation from 8 a.m.-1 a.m. Monday-Saturday and 10 a.m.-1 a.m. on Sunday. The request was then approved unanimously.

“We wish you the very best of luck,” said Chairman Roche.

“We’re looking forward to it,” said Selectman Fowler on the prospect of Mazcot’s opening.

Posted by Bera B. Dunau on June 20, 2013. Filed under Community News,News. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0. You can leave a response or trackback to this entry