Liquor license approved for Stone Rooster

May 4, 2021

MARION — Selectmen approved a liquor license for 27 Wareham Road, the site of Gilda’s Stone Rooster, so long as the bar receives an occupancy permit from the building commissioner.

Selectmen approved the license at a May 4 meeting, following a public hearing continued from a hearing in April.

At the April hearing, John Mello detailed he and fellow restaurateur Joe Sauro’s plans to reopen Gilda’s Stone Rooster as Stone Rooster, following the retirement of longtime founder and owner Gilda Downey.

In April, Planning Board member and River Road resident Chris Collings spoke on behalf of himself and his neighbors, urging that something be done to prevent parking for the bar on the adjacent River Road.

On May 4, Selectman John Waterman said a parking plan will be discussed as part of the building occupancy permit necessary for the activation of the liquor license.

“And one that demonstrates that there’s parking there to support the occupancy of the building,” he said.

Additionally, Waterman said “We’re going to be paying attention to what happens here,” noting, “liquor licenses are renewed annually.”

Still, River Road residents had some questions for Mello and the Selectmen during the May 4 public hearing.

Kathryn Collings, for one, wondered how many employees would be working at one time.

“We think we would probably have between two and three employees,” Mello said.

Waterman confirmed the figure, noting that he and the other Selectmen did a walkthrough of the site earlier that day.

But Mello’s response prompted a further question from Collings. She wondered whether two or three employees would be enough to both serve drinks and food.

“It’s been our experience in this industry that minimizing labor is better for profit,” Mello said, noting that The Stowaway, Sauro’s bar in Mattapoisett, has only one employee and serves food.

Next up was Chris Collings, who reiterated points about the importance of parking restrictions on River Road to ensure Stone Rooster patrons don’t block residents and emergency vehicles on the street.

“We’re a cul de sac,” he said. “Can’t we just have a ‘no parking’ section at the entrance to our street?”

A River Road parking discussion was soon cut short by Town Administrator Jay McGrail, who said it was “unfair to tie the current applicant up in that process,” as it had no bearing on the liquor license.

However, Selectmen agreed to add a discussion on River Road parking to a future agenda.

Following the public hearing, Selectmen voted unanimously to approve the liquor license, contingent on the issuance of an occupancy permit.