NORTHAMPTON — The manager of a condominium building located near Hinge nightclub at 48 Main Street has taken a public stand against the venue's bid to procure a full restaurant liquor license, saying staff and patrons create a noise problem which would only be made worse by hard alcohol. At a License Commission hearing Tuesday, Jeff Dwyer, manager of Hamp Condos...
NORTHAMPTON — The manager of a condominium building located near Hinge nightclub at 48 Main Street has taken a public stand against the venue's bid to procure a full restaurant liquor license, saying staff and patrons create a noise problem which would only be made worse by hard alcohol.
At a License Commission hearing Tuesday, Jeff Dwyer, manager of Hamp Condos at 24-34 Pleasant St., also questioned why he was not notified, as an abutter, of Hinge's intent to seek the license, as his building is separated from the back door of the nightclub — which currently has a food menu and serves beer and wine — by only a narrow alleyway.
Commissioners told Dwyer he wasn't notified of the hearing because he's not an actual abutter. The true abutter is the the City of Northampton, which owns the alleyway and adjacent back parking lot, said commissioners William Rosen and Elaine Reall.
Reall said the state Alcoholic Beverages Control Commission sets the rules for public hearings, that an applicant for a license must inform abutters, and that abutting properties are those which actually touch each other.
"Sending notice to a parking lot is silly," said Dwyer. "The ABCC would disagree," responded Reall. "Did Hinge fulfill their abutter notice to me?" pressed Dwyer. "Technically, yes," answered Reall.
Dwyer told commissioners Hinge creates an early-morning noise problem for residents of his building. The north wall of Hamp Condos, a two-story brick building with five retail and six residential units, is located about 12 feet away from the back door of Hinge.
Dwyer said the noise is particularly bad between 2 and 3 a.m., when bands "load out" at the club's back door. He said nightclub staff, musicians, and patrons gather in the alley to smoke, socialize loudly, and "who knows what else."
"Noise just ricochets down that alley," Dwyer told the License Commission. "It's a sound tunnel. I get phone calls."
Hinge, which offers live music and DJ dancing, is one of seven establishments vying for a for a rare, available full-pour restaurant alcohol license soon to be awarded by the city. The licensed was seized from businessman Eric Suher in May.
Because of a state quota system, there's a cap on the number of liquor licenses in Northampton; as a result, they are generally bought and sold on the private market. Recently, licenses have changed hands for $150,000 and $200,000. In contrast, a city-issued license would require a $25 application fee, $200 to the ABCC, and a one-time $10,000 payment to convert the seasonal license to year-round status. All licensees pay yearly renewal fees to the city, as well.
Representatives from the seven competing venues made presentations to the city's License Commission Monday and Tuesday; the winner is expected to be drawn at random Tues. Oct. 4 after any unqualified applicants are eliminated from the pool. A list of five criteria for applicants is posted on the city's website.
Hinge is co-owned by Brian Assaunt and Aaron Kater, partners since August in Healthy Karma LLC. Assaunt is manager-of-record for the venue's wine and beer license, but told commissioners Tuesday he plans to transfer the business — and full responsibility for the alcohol —to the 28-year-old Kater. Assaunt's name is on the current application for a full-alcohol license, even as Kater of 57 Buffam Rd. in Pelham introduced himself to commissioners as the "new owner of Hinge."
The three-story brick building housing Hinge at 48 Main St. is owned by Tushar Mody of Elmwood Park, New Jersey, records show.
Dwyer, during Tuesday's public comment session, argued that the venue should be disqualified from consideration, saying there are residential condos and apartments on all sides of the venue. "The place started out as a raw foods restaurant and somehow morphed into a nightclub," he said. He also said there have been "incidents on Main Street" involving police and Hinge patrons.
Dwyer said giving a full liquor license to Hinge would mean a quick transition from "glasses of beer and wine to jello and tequila shots."
Rosen came to the defense of Hinge, saying no matter what type of alcohol is served, the bar's owners must maintain an orderly premise and comply with the law. "The responsibilities are the same, no matter what type of alcohol is served," he said.
Assaunt agreed, asking Dwyer "What's the difference if someone has two shots or five beers?" Assaunt charged that Dwyer unfairly blames all late-night problems in the back alley on him, saying "Jeff insists every cigarette butt back there is from Hinge."
Assaunt acknowledged that the venue has had problems with noise and problematic guests in the past, but that those problems have been solved by keeping the back door and windows closed and instituting a dress code. Hinge would get rid of DJ nights under Kater's management, promised Assaunt. "Live music attracts a very different crowd," he said.
Dwyer said Assaunt has been unavailable to take phone calls and deal with problems at the bar, because he spends most of his time on Cape Cod. Kater, recognized to speak by the commission, promised to be an on-site manager.
During Kater's initial presentation (see Youtube video below), he outlined a vision that included a complete renovation, moving the elevator in the three-story venue, creating new bathrooms, doubling the size of the stage, installing a state-of-the-art sound system, and sound-proofing the building, all for about $65,000.
Dwyer accused Assaunt of "selling out to a new young man," and opined that Kater's estimate of $65,000 to renovate the space is unrealistically low.
Kater said he wished he were able to prove himself to Dwyer. He said he would be on the premises, would not let the back door open when bands are playing, and have musicians load in and out on Main Street at the building's front door, instead of out back in the shared parking lot.
Kater said it's good marketing and "creates buzz" when people see a band pull up on Main Street.
Establishments vying for the license are Treydon's Bar and Grill, proposed for the former Kathy's Diner at 6 Strong Ave.; Bistro Les Gras at 25 West St.; Sierra Grille at 41A Strong St.; Hinge nightclub at 48 Main St.; Ibiza Tapas at 7 Strong Ave.; Local Burger at 16 Main St.; and Sylvester's Restaurant at 111 Pleasant St.
Hinge has been the only venue of the seven to draw negative comment from a member of the public. The public hearing and formal comment period, which began last Monday, remains open, said Rosen. The commission meets again Tuesday, Oct. 1.