Onset Beach Patio & Grille served warning for operating without entertainment license

The Onset Beach Patio & Grille was issued a warning by the Select Board after holding line dancing lessons, playing music and using TVs in its establishment without an entertainment license at the Tuesday, Aug. 8 meeting.

The license takes three to four weeks, so in the meantime, Owner Frank Evangelista cannot hold events, play music or have his TVs on display.

Lieutenant Michael Smith said he was given orders to investigate possible license misuse at businesses in town and brought violations by the patio & grille to the board.

The first was a violation of the business’ liquor licenses for holding a “serving station” on its patio, which is outside of their licensed area.

However, Evangelista explained it was not a serving station, but a display of alcohol bottles that were emptied and replaced with sand.

The second violation involved Evangelista hiring a line dancing coach to teach customers for free.

Evangelista said he was unaware he was breaking the licensing rules, but as Select Board member Alan Slavin pointed out Massachusetts does not make allowances for ignorance of the law.

It also came out that any business playing music or displaying content on TVs is also providing entertainment and a license is necessary to continue those activities.

Due to this being a first-time violation, the board served a warning, but also said the next violation will have more severe consequences.

Evangelista said, “It's not my intention to do wrong here — we are trying to do right — so I apologize if I made mistakes, but again, I'm trying to move forward from it.”