Brutole Must Pay Outstanding Bills and Sell License, Say Selectmen

The owners of the former Brutole Restaurant on Route 1 will need to pay their past due liquor license renewal fee, and outstanding electric, water and sewer bills within 30 days – and find a new buyer of their liquor license within six months.

If either does not happen, the Danvers Board of Selectmen will take the license from them.

The board voted 4-0 to demand the money as well as the closed business finding a new buyer for the license after a motion by Selectwoman Diane Langlais (Selectmen David Mills abstained from the vote because he once represented the company).

“That’s the only motion I’m going to make. You don’t have a nicer motion coming after me,” Langlais told Craig Tiedemann, who was representing owner Ilias Kakouris. “I’m throwing you the best opportunity you’re going to get.”

Brutole closed on Feb. 5 after the parcel was purchased by Hilton Hotels and the lease ran out, according to Tiedemann.

He said Brutole paid the $4,000 liquor license renewal, but it bounced in late January when the company’s bank account was closed. In addition, the company owes $12,000 to Danvers Electric and Danvers Water and Sewer.

Brutole did not inform the board about the business closure, which license holders are required to do. Instead, Danvers Police informed town officials that the business appeared closed in March.

This did not sit well with board members. Selectmen Chairman Gardner Trask said Brutole has been before the board previously because of issues, including failing an alcohol compliance check and falling behind on its electric bill. The board has shown good will to Brutole, but not anymore, he said. 

“We have shown you good will and support as a business. I am no longer willing to extend any good will on this issue,” said Trask.

Langlais said she wants to help businesses, but Danvers also needs its money and the license in use.

“I’m trying to work with you on this,” she said. “I want our money first and I’m not going to give you extension after extension to sell it… I want Danvers’ money. I want you to sell [the license] and I want someone to come in and pay meals tax.”