Mixed reaction to plan for Adams Corner eatery

Abutters and neighbors turned out by the dozens at Tuesday’s Cedar Grove Civic Association meeting to scrutinize plans for a pub/restaurant at the site of the long-vacant Hollywood Video building near the intersection of Granite Avenue and Gallivan Boulevard.

While backers Julian Bolger and Shawn Ahern had sample menus and floor plans ready for the 85 people gathered in the basement of St. Brendan’s Church, abutters were more concerned about the impact of a new single-story bar and restaurant on traffic and noise concerns in an already bustling neighborhood.

“This does not fit in the neighborhood,” said Doug McGrath, who owns a home on Beaufield Street, which shares a property line with the parcel. A vocal opponent of the restaurant at the meeting, McGrath said, “It’s going to be a problem, it’s going to be a problem absolutely. It should never get okayed by City Hall. There won’t be any parking spots.”

Named Sam Maverick’s after a 17-year-old victim of the Boston Massacre, the neighborhood kitchen and oyster bar would seat 160 inside and another 60 outside on a patio facing Granite Avenue. It would serve lunch, dinner, weekend brunch, and a late-night menu.

Bolger and Ahern defended the seemingly large seating arrangement, saying it was necessary for a return on their $1.5 million investment in the proposal. Bolger said they would sign on to a 25-year lease with Tom Naughton, the building’s owner, if the project is approved.

Many who turned out at Tuesday’s session hoped to vote on the Maverick’s restaurant proposal, but that won’t happen until next month. Members did, however, vote on a proposal by a Little Caesars pizza franchise to use the same location and turned it down, 69-11.

Trisha Tobin, of Myrtlebank Avenue, vouched for Bolger, but advised him “the neighborhood has to come first.” She also expressed concern over the size of the restaurant. “Size it down a little bit maybe?” she said. “We all had these concerns about Blasi’s,” Tobin added, a reference to a nearby eatery at Adams and Minot streets.

There were also concerns expressed about additional cars coming into the area and rowdy revelers spilling out of the bar into the neighborhood. Still, said Tobin, “Empty buildings in the neighborhood are not good. That brings all of our property values down. All we need is a solid promise from them to keep it quiet and make sure the hours work and parking works.”

Bolger and Ahern, for their part, are looking to work with the neighbors. “If you vote up next month we’ll go forward, and if you vote it down, we’ll shake hands,” said Bolger. “I think we’ve been very forthright in what we’re proposing.”


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