Unique liquor license granted

24 Bar & Grille to contribute to urban renewal

By Owen Boss

GARDNER — A local restaurant owner was recently awarded an all-alcohol liquor license to open a sports-themed restaurant at 24 Parker St. in Gardner, according to city officials. The liquor license Ramsey Clayter applied for was the first of its kind, and will require the The 24 Bar & Grille to pay both a $750 license fee and also contribute $2,500 each year to fund the urban renewal of the community. Thomas Carroll, chairman of the liquor license commission, said the parameters of the unique license were arranged to attract family-oriented, sit-down restaurants to the area. “We want it to be a classy place,” said Mr. Carroll. “The aim of the parameters of the license was put in place to attract larger chain restaurants to our town.” Mayor Mark Hawke said the opening of the restaurant is a good sign of things to come for the urban renewal of downtown Gardner. “I think competition breeds success,” said Mr. Hawke. “And I think if we have a few other choices here in downtown it will be terrific.” Furthermore, Mr. Hawke also discussed the importance of having a new family restaurant in Gardner. “It would be good to have an attractive sit-down restuarant downtown, because it would hopefully cause customers to go to the local niche shops that we have here in the city,” said the mayor. Some of the requirements for the restaurant include that at least 51 percent of the restaurants profits come from nonalcoholic drinks, and seating has to be available for at least three-quarters of its occupants, which is more than the usually required two-thirds seating. “The parameters are fair,” said Mr. Clayter, “and the reason that they are doing it the way they are doing it is to keep someone from opening up just another neighborhood bar.” Mr. Clayter has several interesting plans for the restaurant, which include operating a full kitchen and catering to a younger crowd. Although he has worked hard in opening the restaurant, Mr. Clayter said the majority of the work can be attributed to George Ouellet, owner of George Ouellet Construction. The restaurant’s opening date is still up in the air. “The original plan was to open on April 20,” said Mr. Ouellet. “The date is still up in the air pending several projects we have yet to finish such as the plumbing.” Mr. Ouellet, who works primarily with building houses and remodeling work, said building the bar was a new experience. “This was a challenge because making bars is not really our expertise,” said Mr. Ouellet. However, the aid of two carpenters helped make it a successful project, according to Mr. Ouellet. “We have two of the best carpenters in the area working with us, Omer Arsenault and Silvio Comeau,” said Mr. Ouellet, “The bar itself will tell the whole story of the hard work that is being done here. You won’t see another bar like this one in the Gardner area.” Mr. Clayter said that the opening of the restaurant has been in the works for about a year, and applying for the unique liquor license was an interesting experience. “We’re the guniea pig,” said Mr. Clayter. “We are the first restaurant to open with these new requirements, and we look forward to contributing to the urban renewal fund. It will give us the oppurtunity to better the community.” oboss@thegardnernews.com

Appeared on Page 1 on 4/11/2008 (Vol. 206 No. 87)