Norwood Selectmen Refuse to Renew Liquor Licenses for Two Closed South Norwood Bars-September 11, 1985

Moving aggressively to curb excess alcohol availability, the Board of Selectmen announced last night that they will refuse to renew liquor licenses for two closed South Norwood establishments when the regular annual recertification period arrives this November.

Crackdown on Inactive Liquor Licenses

The board’s impending action targets Dundulis’ Lunch at 1118 Washington St. and the Headquarters Cafe, forming part of a broader municipal strategy to reduce the number of alcohol-selling establishments in town.

“There’s too much booze in South Norwood,” declared Selectman Walter Dempsey.

Dundulis’ Lunch has remained shuttered since 1982, following an incident in which manager Walenty Gil was sent to prison for murdering his estranged wife and her bartender. Although the state Alcoholic Beverage Control Commission (ABCC) previously overturned a prior municipal revocation of the license, Town Counsel Justin C. Barton advised selectmen that they possess the legal authority to strip Dundulis’ license because the establishment currently lacks a valid food-service permit. Under state law, Barton explained, holding an active food license is a mandatory legal prerequisite for possessing a retail liquor license. Selectmen had previously revoked the bar’s common victualer’s food license in 1983.

Barton added that the board could deploy the exact same legal strategy against the Headquarters Cafe, which was destroyed by fire earlier this year. He noted that the establishment cannot demonstrate it possesses the physical facilities required to serve food since being leveled.

Hotel Tax Rejected as Unfair to Local Competition

In other business, selectmen voted unanimously not to enact a new 4 percent hotel/motel tax in Norwood, heeding warnings from local hospitality managers who argued the levy would place them at an unfair competitive disadvantage.

The Legislature approved the local-option tax earlier in the summer as part of a legislative strategy to bolster Boston’s foundering finances, alongside a 5 percent jet fuel tax. While Board Chairman John Kinnaly initially suggested the town explore the revenue stream in July—arguing, “If there’s a possibility of raising money legitimately, the town should take advantage of it”—local hotel operators strongly demurred.

Frank Simoni, owner of the Howard Johnson’s Hotel on Route 1, where overnight room rates ranged from $71 to $85, argued against the tax: “If the whole state pays it, that’s one thing. But if hotels in Norwood have to compete with other towns [that don’t have the tax], I think we’d be in an unfair situation.” Simoni noted the tax would increase customer costs by about $3 on cheaper rooms.

Similarly, Bruce Mattoon, manager of the Best Western Conference Center owned by Factory Mutual on Route 1, pointed out that the facility is primarily utilized to house company employees during training sessions. The firm spends $630,000 annually on trainee accommodations, meaning the 4 percent tax would saddle Factory Mutual with an additional $25,000 yearly tax burden. “That’s not a fair position to be in,” Mattoon said.

Chairman Kinnaly downplayed the impact, noting, “It’s not going to break anybody… You’re not starving.” However, the board agreed to revisit the subject annually and monitor regional adoption trends. Furthermore, Kinnaly and the airport commission expressed ongoing concern that Boston’s separate jet fuel tax could divert aviation traffic from Logan Airport to Norwood Airport, pledging to track jet volume closely.

Samuel Choy Seeks Third Hearing for Szechuan Restaurant

Samuel W. Choy, whose previous applications for a restaurant license to open a Chinese eatery on Washington Street were rejected twice last spring, petitioned selectmen for a third hearing. Choy hopes to open a Szechuan-style restaurant at the site of the former Garner Pharmacy at 659 Washington St. While the board took no immediate action, Chairman Kinnaly indicated he would not oppose granting Choy another hearing.

Town Continues Legal Battle Against Adams-Russell Cable Rate Hike

Reversing course following earlier reservations, selectmen voted unanimously to continue their legal fight against a steep 32 percent rate increase imposed by Adams-Russell Cablevision.

In late July, the firm raised rates for “Super Cable” service from $7.50 to $14.50 per month, while multi-outlet hookups jumped from $2.50 to $6 per address. Basic local service remained at $4.50 per month. Municipal officials and the town’s cable television commission argued the hike violated Adams-Russell’s 15-year franchise agreement, which mandates a two-year rate freeze following the completion of a free “institutional loop” connecting all public buildings and houses of worship. Company systems manager Jay Somers countered that the loop had been finished for two years and, as a complimentary service, fell outside the rate agreement while the firm was losing at least $300,000 annually under old rates.

Although an initial application for a court-ordered preliminary injunction was denied—prompting Chairman Kinnaly to suggest abandoning the costly litigation—Selectman William F. Butters and cable commission members urged persistence, noting legal expenses had already been incurred. Reversing his stance to ensure board unity, Kinnaly voted with his colleagues to press forward with the lawsuit.

Archival Note: This article has been dynamically reconstructed from the original public record print archives of the Patriot Ledger