Chastened Mezze Ordered To Create 'Culture of Carding'By Tammy Daniels, iBerkshires Staff
08:57PM / Monday, April 12, 2010 | |
Head waiter Jeffrey Willette and Mezze owner Nancy Thomas appeared before the Selectmen on Monday. |
WILLIAMSTOWN, Mass. — A repentant Nancy Thomas' vow that Mezze Bistro and Bar would implement strict rules regarding alcohol serving barely assuaged the Selectmen on Monday night.
The board. acting as the licensing commission, unanimously voted to send the restaurant a sternly written warning that the next time it served minors it could expect to see its license suspended.
"This is not a game and I don't want to be here after a tragedy," said a "fired-up" Chairman Thomas Costley to owner Thomas, waiter Jeffrey Willette (who allegedly served the minor) and attorney Sherwood Guernsey. He warned if his 17-year-old daughter was ever served, "I'll kill you."
Mezze's problems came on March 11, only two days after Thomas had appeared before the board to request a transfer of license to its new location in the former Le Jardin on Cold Spring Road.
"The record shows you have failed four of seven compliance checks from 2006 to 2010," said Selectwoman Jane Allen, a retired educator who often takes point on issues dealing with alcohol and minors. The restaurant also was involved in a "last drinking" offense in 2009, after a motorist was stopped by police.
Nancy Thomas
|
The restaurant had to institute a "culture of carding," said Allen. In other words, "they are going to be carded unless they have wrinkles."
Thomas said she realized the importance of the issue and that the restaurant does regular training with employees, and brought in paperwork explaining the program. A certified TIPS training has already been set up on May 23 to catch the large number of seasonal waitstaff that will be joining for the summer, she said. Thomas and Willette will also have to appear in Northern Berkshire District Court for a show-cause hearing on April 23.
"There are no excuses for serving a minor. The entire staff is really regretful this happened," said Thomas, adding "I apologize to the Williamstown Police force."
There may be no excuse for serving a 17-year-old boy, said Guernsey, but there were extenuating circumstances — an extremely busy night and some confusion that lead to Willette, a 30-year veteran of the industry and head of training for Mezze, to serve the drink.
Allen and Costley weren't appeased. The drink had been served during a well-publicized compliance check, they said, in response to Thomas' description of the check as a "sting."
"We're asking you to do what the law says you have to do," Allen berated Thomas. "All these compliance checks are doing is asking you not serve minors."
Selectmen Ronald Turbin, David Rempell and Thomas Sheldon were more cautious about suspending the alcohol license of one of the town's top eateries.
"I'm not ready to pull the trigger on suspension," said Turbin, later adding that "I would like to see Mezze take the lead on this and be an example to every other restaurant in town."
Willette, however, said he agreed with a suspension as a way to stress the importance of the issue. "We have to go back to the staff and tell them that."
The board agreed to send Mezze a letter similar to that sent to serving scofflaws in 2009 that warned them another infraction could lead to a three- to seven-day suspension of the license. It is also required to provide proof of TIPS training by June 1.
"You are never going to see me again," said Willette. "We are going to fix it. Period."
In other business,the licensing board:
► Approved common victualer and music licenses for Poppy's Deli at 240 Main St., Peter Harrison owner, and That's a Wrap, 60 Spring St., Jason Boucher, owner.
► Approved an all-alcoholic club license for Taconic Golf Club, 19 Meacham St., Gregory Canales, manager.
► Approved a seasonal wine and malt beverage license and live music licenses for the Williamstown Theatre Foundation, Ira Lapidus, manager, for 1000 Main St. and Goodrich Hall, and an additional Sunday license for 1000 Main; and a seasonal malt and liquor and common victualer license for the Clark Art Institute.
Updated at 10:34 p.m. to add photos; minor editing.
|
