Neighbors of the North Main Street location, the former Olive's nightclub, voiced concerns over loud music and issues with unruly patrons leaving at closing time
PROVIDENCE, R.I. — About 15 neighbors, including a lawyer for condo residents across the street, objected Monday to license transfers from the closed Olive's nightclub to the planned Olive's Hookah Lounge & Bar.
Roger and Marina Kallab, of 10 West Park St., doing business as OH Night Lounge LLC, appeared before the Providence Board of Licenses with their lawyer on Monday, seeking a transfer of alcohol, food and entertainment licenses that had been held by Olive's Lounge Inc., for the 108 North Main St. location.
Roger Kallab told the board he was investing more than $200,000 to open an upscale smoking lounge where deejays would select music and live jazz bands might play on the weekends.
Marina Kallab, who said she has been the manager since 2005 of the hookah lounge at Providence Byblos, 235 Meeting St., described the new lounge as a place where people would come after dining to enjoy drinks and small plates while smoking from the elaborately decorated water pipes known as hookahs.
Because smoking is prohibited at restaurants, the business has also applied for a tobacco vendor license, which requires that more than 50 percent of its revenue comes from tobacco sales.
The Kallabs were not seeking the transfer of the old Olive's nightclub license, saying their redesign of the interior would eliminate the dance floor and replace it with booths, which would also reduce the old Olive's 225-person maximum occupancy.
John Garrahy, a lawyer for the condo association at 101 North Main St., was among those who argued against the license transfer. Opponents said patrons would exhibit the same obnoxious behavior as nightclub patrons at closing time, that the music could not be contained within the lounge's walls and that a hookah lounge was not a good fit for the neighborhood, where restaurants Mills Tavern, XO Cafe and Harry's work well with residents.
Although the new lounge operators have met once with neighbors, the board suggested they meet again before Feb. 10, when the hearing will continue.
dnaylor@providencejournal.com
(401) 277-7411
PROVIDENCE, R.I. — About 15 neighbors, including a lawyer for condo residents across the street, objected Monday to license transfers from the closed Olive's nightclub to the planned Olive's Hookah Lounge & Bar.
Roger and Marina Kallab, of 10 West Park St., doing business as OH Night Lounge LLC, appeared before the Providence Board of Licenses with their lawyer on Monday, seeking a transfer of alcohol, food and entertainment licenses that had been held by Olive's Lounge Inc., for the 108 North Main St. location.
Roger Kallab told the board he was investing more than $200,000 to open an upscale smoking lounge where deejays would select music and live jazz bands might play on the weekends.
Marina Kallab, who said she has been the manager since 2005 of the hookah lounge at Providence Byblos, 235 Meeting St., described the new lounge as a place where people would come after dining to enjoy drinks and small plates while smoking from the elaborately decorated water pipes known as hookahs.
Because smoking is prohibited at restaurants, the business has also applied for a tobacco vendor license, which requires that more than 50 percent of its revenue comes from tobacco sales.
The Kallabs were not seeking the transfer of the old Olive's nightclub license, saying their redesign of the interior would eliminate the dance floor and replace it with booths, which would also reduce the old Olive's 225-person maximum occupancy.
John Garrahy, a lawyer for the condo association at 101 North Main St., was among those who argued against the license transfer. Opponents said patrons would exhibit the same obnoxious behavior as nightclub patrons at closing time, that the music could not be contained within the lounge's walls and that a hookah lounge was not a good fit for the neighborhood, where restaurants Mills Tavern, XO Cafe and Harry's work well with residents.
Although the new lounge operators have met once with neighbors, the board suggested they meet again before Feb. 10, when the hearing will continue.
dnaylor@providencejournal.com
(401) 277-7411
Resource: http://www.providencejournal.com/article/20160202/NEWS/160209839
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