Onion Town Grill to Serve Out 3-Day Suspension of Liquor License

Selectmen have imposed a three-day suspension of the Onion Town Grill's liquor license in light of recent violations of state liquor laws.

The board issued its decision last week and has invited the restaurant owners to the Nov. 19 meeting to discuss tentative dates in December in which to serve out the suspension.

The state Alcoholic Beverages Control Commission handed down a five-day suspension to the restaurant at a hearing in September, but postponed that penalty provided there were no further violations for the next two years.

The violations uncovered by the ABCC occurred this past June.

Selectmen had made a similar agreement with the Onion Town Grill last fall after the establishment was caught up in a random town compliance check by police and underage operatives that summer. An underage customer was served a drink.

The board voted last October to hold a three-day suspension in abeyance for one year if no further violations occurred. Since the latest infractions did occur within that time frame, the board imposed the local penalty.

The specifics of the two state violations were not discussed last week.

The Salem News reports, however, that ABCC documentation of its investigation states the restaurant purchased alcohol in New Hampshire and from local package stores, which violates a stipulation that all purchases be made with licensed in-state distributors, and that staff refilled liquor bottles, which also violates state liquor law.

The Onion Town Grill is located at 175 Water St.