Onset Beach Patio and Grille to appeal liquor license suspension

The Onset Beach Patio and Grille plans to appeal the Select Board’s suspension of its liquor license, with owner Frank Evangelista claiming he was not made aware of the Sept. 3 disciplinary hearing where the Select Board made its decision. 

The Select Board suspended the business’ liquor license for two months starting Wednesday, Sept. 18. The Board imposed the penalty because the Patio and Grille planned events to run later in the evening than allowed by its liquor and entertainment licenses. The licenses allow events until 10 p.m., and the business advertised late-night dancing until 1 a.m.

Evangelista said he appealed the suspension to the state Alcoholic Beverages Control Commission, but that the appeal can take up to 14 days. 

According to Select Board Chair Judith Whiteside, the management of the Patio and Grille has not been in touch with the Select Board regarding an appeal. 

The late-night dancing that got the Patio and Grille’s liquor license suspended only happened once, according to Evangelista. 

“We always try to do something new for the next season,” and the business trials its coming-season events each August, he said. This year, the business wanted to try late-night dancing. 

Evangelista said he filed the change of hours documentation with the state Alcoholic Beverages Control Commission. Once he got the Commission’s OK, he filed papers with the town. 

“We thought it was just a formality at that point,” said Evangelista. Instead, the town informed him the process would require a public hearing and would take several weeks. 

At that point, the business abandoned the change of hours for the season — but it had already paid for aDJ to workone event, so Evangelista decided to go forward with that one night’s dancing. 

The event led to the Patio and Grill being summoned to a disciplinary hearing on Tuesday, Sept. 3. Evangelista claims he only found out about the hearing on Facebook.

During the disciplinary hearing, the Select Board listed ways it had attempted to contact Evangelista, including a letter sent to him as well as a reminder sent the day of the hearing.