The meeting took a detailed look at the application from Los Amigos Diner and Restaurant Corporation, which intends to take over the existing Victoria’s Diner on Washington Avenue. The application sought a new amusement and entertainment license with extended operating hours until midnight from Monday to Saturday and until 11 p.m. on Sundays. The proposal included plans for live music, karaoke, and a future liquor license. However, the commissioners raised concerns regarding noise levels and potential disturbances to the surrounding residential neighborhood.

Concerns centered on the noise that could emanate from the diner, potentially affecting nearby residents. One member pointed out the importance of containing noise within the restaurant, emphasizing that the specific entertainment options were less important than ensuring the noise did not spill out into the neighborhood. Another member suggested that the applicant conduct noise tests outside the restaurant to confirm that operations would not disturb the neighborhood. This was especially pertinent given the history of complaints from nearby residents regarding noise from other establishments. A commissioner stated, “The thing that we’ve had a lot of restaurants come here is because they have a DJ, but the neighbors have all complained.”

The conversation also touched on the previous history of the establishment, noting that Victoria’s Diner had its liquor license removed in 2020, raising additional cautionary flags. The owner of Los Amigos Diner, who had experience operating a location called Los Amigos on Broadway, assured the commission that he had adhered to rules and regulations during his previous operations. He highlighted that the new location was surrounded by fewer residential buildings than the former site.

A suggestion was made to approve the license while initially omitting the DJ and karaoke options, allowing the business to establish itself before introducing potentially disruptive entertainment. One commissioner proposed, “I personally would suggest looking at approving the license without the DJ and karaoke to start,” highlighting the importance of evaluating the restaurant’s impact on the neighborhood before expanding entertainment options. The owner of Los Amigos Diner expressed a willingness to comply with these stipulations, confirming that karaoke would be acceptable without amplification.

Sergeant Chung from the police department noted the need to research any past concerns related to the original Los Amigos, as the incident that halted call logs required additional review. Ultimately, a motion was put forth to approve the new hours and the amusement and entertainment license to include radio, TV, and karaoke for Los Amigos Diner, excluding the DJ. The motion was seconded, and the commission voted in favor of the proposal.

In another discussion, the commission addressed the application from Jolan LLC, operating as Harbor House Collective, for a change in hours for their amusement and entertainment license. The business sought to extend operational hours from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. to 9 a.m. to 11 p.m. Richard Sue, a co-founder and chief compliance officer, explained that the extension was necessary to align the entertainment license with the newly approved operating hours. Sue clarified that earlier references to a DJ in the application were outdated, as the establishment had not hosted a DJ since 2022.

Sergeant Chung raised concerns over multiple false burglar alarms originating from the establishment, citing 22 incidents due to a malfunctioning motion detector. Sue acknowledged the issue and explained efforts to rectify the situation, including replacing and rewiring the faulty detector. The commission emphasized the importance of resolving this issue to prevent the misuse of police resources, leading to a collaborative effort to monitor and address the alarms.

Finally, the commission considered a public hearing for Starbucks Corporation, which sought approval for background music in their new coffee shop. The representative from Starbucks mentioned they were in the final stages of obtaining various permits, including an occupancy permit. The commission expressed little concern about the background music application, viewing it as a straightforward matter compared to previous discussions. Without opposition, the commission unanimously approved the amusement and entertainment license for Starbucks, allowing them to proceed with their plans.