Gloucester's last full liquor license: Rocky Neck Lobster vs. Mehfil

Two restaurants want Gloucester's last available full liquor license. Board members signaled support for Rocky Neck Lobster Company II in East Gloucester after they found a problem with the other bid, but no vote has been taken.

The city's Licensing Board heard both applicants Tuesday night, Oct. 13. It plans to make its pick at a Zoom meeting Monday, Oct. 19, at 6:30 p.m.

The Licensing Board decides who can sell beer, wine and liquor in Gloucester. The city has a set number of licenses. Right now only one year round license for all kinds of alcohol is open, so two restaurants were competing for it.

A missed step

Gloucester Restaurant Group, doing business as Mehfil, wants to open a 76 seat Indian restaurant at 226 Washington St., in the space that was once Jasmine Garden. It would be a new restaurant with a full bar.

Before a hearing, applicants must mail notices to nearby property owners so neighbors can speak up. Mehfil's lawyer told the board his law office never sent them. He said the mistake was the firm's, not his client's.

One board member said a church and homes are close by and had a right to be told. "This group is here without a mistake. The other group wasn't," he said of the two applicants. Another member said Mehfil had "disqualified themselves." A motion to find the application incomplete was made and seconded, but the board did not vote on it. The chair said she agreed but wanted to keep the schedule the board had posted and ask the city's lawyer first.

The owners said they still want to open. The chair said two year round beer and wine licenses are also open.

Rocky Neck Lobster's case

Rocky Neck Lobster Company II runs the restaurant at 115 East Main St. It has a seasonal license now and closes for part of the winter. It wants a year round license.

Its lawyer said the owner employs 80 to 85 people in summer and 70 to 75 in slower months. She wants to keep them working all year. The restaurant opened in May 2023. It sought the same kind of license in 2024, but that one went to Saltwater Grill.

Four residents spoke in favor on Zoom. They said little is open in East Gloucester in winter. No one spoke against it.

"You are the role model of how a restaurant should run," the chair told the owner.

If chosen, the new license would start Jan. 1, 2027, after state approval.

Also at the meeting

• Hammond Castle: The board approved a one day license for the Goblin King Ball fundraiser at Hammond Castle Museum, 80 Hesperus Ave., on Oct. 30 and 31. The sold out costume party runs 7 to 11 p.m.
• Fake IDs: The chair said fake IDs made with AI are a growing problem in Gloucester. She wants the board to discuss on Nov. 10 whether every license holder must use an ID scanner starting in 2027. Both restaurants agreed to use one.
• Renewals: All liquor licenses come up for renewal. Applications must be signed by Nov. 30. The board will hear renewals Dec. 7 on Zoom and Dec. 8 in person, both at 6:30 p.m., and will not add more dates.

What happens next

The board meets Monday, Oct. 19, at 6:30 p.m. on Zoom to decide. Both public hearings were left open. The chair said she would ask the city solicitor for advice before then.

How you can take part: Licensing Board meetings are open to the public. Zoom links are posted on the agenda on the city's website. The city's instructions for remote meetings are at gloucester-ma.gov/remote-public-meetings.

How we did this: Cape Ann Current watched the meeting online and checked names against the agenda and the board's roster. This story was produced with the help of AI tools and checked against the documents listed below. If you see an error, tell us at [email protected].