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Miguel and Daniel Gomez stand before the Licensing Board

Licensing Board Approves Tito's New Liquor License

By Brittany PolitoiBerkshires Staff
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PITTSFIELD, Mass. — With a new liquor license, Tito's Mexican Bar and Grill is staged to re-open under new management.

The Licensing Board on Monday approved a license transfer from Eleventh Pin Restaurant, which operated in the former Ken's Bowl, to the eatery located at 34 Depot Street.

At the previous meeting, the board rescinded Tito's former license after it was abandoned by the previous owner.  The restaurant closed its doors about six months ago and principal Felipe Perez had been unable to be reached by either the city or the new owner Miguel Gomez, who is also the owner of La Fogata on Tyler Street.

"I'm glad that you kept coming back and that everything worked out," Board member Kathy Amuso said, adding that she is happy the restaurant will be back in the community.

Chairman Thomas Campoli pointed out that Gomez's business has a good reputation in the city.

Son Daniel Gomez will be Tito's manager.  Aside from growing up in the restaurant industry, he has helped manage a dispensary in Sheffield and worked at a number of local eateries including No. Six Depot Roastery & Cafe in West Stockbridge, The Olde Heritage Tavern in Lenox, and Mazzeo's.

They plan to be open six days a week --closed on Tuesday-- from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m and eventually plan to be open later on weekend nights.  The board approved the license for service from 11 a.m. to midnight.


 
Earlier this month, the eatery posted on Facebook asking customers to stay patient for a few more weeks until they can reopen.
 
"We have ran into some problems upgrading some things that needed attention to make Tito's even better!  But those things will be fixed soon," the post read.  

In other news:

  • The board approved an extension of East Street pizzeria Crust's seasonal wine and malt restaurant license and a transfer of al all alcohol license from the former Enso Asian Bistro, which was located on South Street across from Guido's.  An attorney speaking on behalf of the owner reported that they are having difficulty extracting a certificate from the Department of Revenue for the transfer and believes it is because the license holder's corporation has been dissolved.  
     
  • The board approved a new general on premise seasonal wine and malt license for Pizza Works, located on Tyler Street.  The eatery has been in business for 15 years without selling beer and wine and wanted to see how well it would be received.  It has expanded its footprint into an abutting storefront, providing more room for on-premise consumption.
     
  • An application for a new annual wine and malt license from Hot Plate Brewing Co. was tabled because the applicants are still working on getting state approval.  The brewery, owned by Brooklyn, N.Y., transplants Mike Dell'Aquila and Sarah Real and expects to open this winter.


 


Tags: liquor license,   

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Pittsfield Subcommittee Supports Petricca TIF

By Brittany PolitoiBerkshires Staff

PITTSFIELD, Mass. — Some city councilors are happy to support a longtime city construction company's expansion. It will take a majority of the council support the tax exemption plan.

On Monday, the Finance subcommittee voted in favor of a 10-year tax increment financing agreement for Unistress Corp.'s $4 million expansion at 550 Cheshire Road, which is expected to create 50 new jobs. 

"This is the perfect opportunity. When we give out TIFs or we give out GE economic funds, people talk about helping local business. This is a great local business that hires a lot of people, that pays good salaries so I'm 100 percent for this. This is an easy slam dunk for me," Councilor at Large Earl Persip III said.

"I don't know anybody who's against this. The only time I hear people are against it is they don't understand the TIF program and how it actually works."

Last month, the council acted as a decades-defunct financing authority to OK MassDevelopment assistance for the company. Approval from the Pittsfield Industrial Development Financing Authority, formed in the 1970s, is needed to move the process forward yet that body is far in the past.

At the time, Mayor Peter Marchetti reported that he would return with another proposal to help the company.

"Petricca doesn't have to put an expansion into Pittsfield just like years ago, Interprint did not have to put an expansion in Pittsfield. They could have chosen to move to Georgia, which was on the table for them and an opportunity," he said.

"So anytime the city can come to the table and assist a local business, especially to grow and expand, we should be there with whatever tools in our toolbox that we have."

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