< Back to front page Text size – +

Owners of Red Lantern and Gem pitch waterfront bar and restaurant to Licensing Board

Print | Comments () Posted by Patrick Rosso May 16, 2012 11:24 AM

E-mail

(Image courtesy Google Maps)

By Patrick D. Rosso, Town Correspondent

A new liquor license could soon be coming to the South Boston Waterfront.

Representatives for Empire, a new restaurant and bar located at 1 Marina Park Dr., were before the city’s Licensing Board Wednesday morning seeking approval to transfer a liquor license for the sale of wine, beer, and liquor from Packy’s, a Roxbury-based bar, to the new establishment.

Karen Simao, an attorney representing Empire before the board, said the restaurant will act as an important link between the Rose Fitzgerald Greenway and the South Boston Waterfront.

“Really this is one of the locations that is key to linking the Greenway to the Waterfront,” said Simao. “This location is one of that restaurant’s that will meet that need.”

Edward Kane, one of the owners of Empire, whose company Big Night Venues Boston 2 also owns the Back Bay bar Red Lantern and the Downtown bar Gem, said his group in the future will most likely apply for a full entertainment license and when construction in the neighborhood ends possibly patio space.

Kane said after the hearing that the new establishment is slated to open in June with a 4:00 p.m. opening time and 2:00 a.m. closing time.

Simao estimated that the restaurant, which will include one main bar, a service bar, main dining room, and function space, has a standing capacity of 800 with 400 seats.

Representatives from the offices’ of at-large City Councilors Stephen Murphy and Ayanna Pressley, along with the office of District 7 City Councilor Tito Jackson, all voiced support for the transfer.

The Board will make its decision Thursday to deny, approve, or defer decision on the license transfer.

---
Email Patrick D. Rosso, patrick.d.rosso@gmail.com. Follow him @PDRosso, or friend him on Facebook.