Centre Cafe Beer and Wine License

Dear Neighbors and Friends:

This coming Monday the Board of Selectmen is scheduled to decide on whether to award the Centre Café a ‘Beer & Wine’ license.  I preface my point of view with the owners having provided a nice establishment for both residents and out of Towners.  The food is considered good with nice hospitality.  I have not been to the Café for some time, but my experience was pleasant.  As an unwritten rule Town government doesn’t want to interfere with commerce.  One of the many American dreams is to have the chance, the opportunity, to start your own business and develop it into a some level of success.  Dampening such a dream should not be taken lightly.  On the other hand nor should the impact such an establishment may have on the abutters and the overall safety of the general public.  Lori Capezzuto described the Centre Café as a Gem.  She would be correct as you see it’s picturesque front, and upon entering a clean establishment with friendly people, but let’s look at it from another perspective.  You come home after a long day at work to sit in your backyard only to be confronted with the rear end of a restaurants trash,  its barrels, clanging of kitchen noise and, so on.  For those who come into this gem of a restaurant, enjoy your meal, finish eating, then go home to a clean tranquil home while the abutters of the Centre Café have to listen to the cleaning of the mess left behind by its customers.  This perspective did not resonate, nor was it considered during deliberation after the ‘Hearing’ was closed to public comment.

Additionally, and a primary responsibility of town government is the safety of the entire residential and business community,  as well as those who drive through North Reading.  This is a greater responsibility that exceeds the success of a business.  There are many corners in North Reading that are dangerous and need to be addressed.  North Street and Main, as well as the corner of Park, Winter and Freedom have been addressed, but the corners of Park, Southwick and Concord; Haverhill & Chestnut; Chestnut & Park; to name a few, and yes Washington & Park in front of the Centre Café.  This intersection may be the worst of them all.  If not, granting the Centre Café a wine and beer license will make it so, because with no traffic light to manage the corner you will be increasing the stop and go volume significantly.  Having done my own site study  I can assure you that the high traffic speed from Park to Washington and reverse, combined with the loss of vehicular visibility caused by the sight line of the bridge to the left and the traffic exiting the strip mall is like a perfect storm waiting to happen.  There is also the increased pedestrian traffic that will result, putting our youth and seniors who are not quite aware of the danger this corner presents.  It is this kind of foresight that is necessary in determining whether a license of this magnitude should be awarded to a restaurant at this location.

With all due respect to the perspective that “the DelGreco’s deserve the opportunity to enhance their business”.  Though this is correct, most businesses of this nature usually have a growth plan that includes, out growing its place of business and moving to another location that can support its growth pattern.  The Board of Selectman should not put itself into a position of supporting the few at the expense of the many.  There being exceptions to this rule, this is not one of them.  Selectman Prisco’s perspective unfortunately does not give consideration to the abutters or the safety of the community at large.  It’s a business first everyone after.  Saying that “parking is the number one issue”  and that “safety is number one” begs the question:  Which is number one, parking or safety?  Parking is not the issue, let alone “the one issue”, it is creating a dangerous environment that impacts the entire Town of North Reading.

The Centre Café has seen an increase of 35%-40% since they were not awarded the beer and wine license in 2010.  Considering the economy they have done well, although they warned the Board that if they were not granted such a license they feared they would have to close.  I am happy they are a successful breakfast and lunch establishment, but as an evening restaurant it will put those who cross their intersection at risk.  The solution to safety is the installation of a pedestrian light at the corner of Washington and Park, however this would make it more difficult for the abutters to challenge and very expensive for the town.

Thank You

Jeffrey Yull/Former Selectman