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Photo: Wandaly Ortiz Guerrero hopes to relocate El Punto Lounge from its former proposed location in the 800 block of Blue Hill Avenue down to the former Kay’s Oasis property at 1117-1125 Blue Hill Ave. Seth Daniel photo
The operator of a proposed bar and lounge on Blue Hill Avenue faced opposition from neighbors and concerns from Boston Police during a virtual abutters’ meeting on Monday evening.
Wandaly Ortiz Guerrero hopes to open for business in the former Kay’s Oasis building, using licenses for liquor and entertainment that she and a group of business partners secured for a different location in Dorchester two years ago.
Originally, Ortiz Guerrero had plans to open up El Punto Restaurant and Lounge at 881 Blue Hill Ave. However, since parting ways with her associates, she has turned to plans to lease space inside 1117-1125 Blue Hill Ave., which Kay Chambers operated as a lounge and function hall for decades as Kay’s Oasis.
Chambers sold the property in 2024 to the Stamatos family of Jamaica Plain.
Ortiz Guerrero is petitioning the city to move the liquor license and needs to secure a live entertainment license at the Oasis site, which she said has a capacity of 400 to 500.
There will be no restaurant associated with this property, Guerrero said, as it doesn’t have a kitchen. She said they hope to add a restaurant but for now will operate a lounge and rental hall from 9 p.m. to 2 a.m. while not planning to be open seven days a week.
She said she will hire Bunker Protection Services to run security at the premises and also have them patrol the side streets to ensure people leave after closing. She also said they hope to have Boston Police monitoring closing time outside.
“Security will be there, and it would be a hard end at 2 a.m.,” she said. “Security will be outside and make sure everyone leaves.”
But neighbors on Monday’s call weren’t convinced.
“I think you’re making promises, and I don’t think you can keep them,” said abutter Anthony Lewis, one of several neighbors on Havelock Street who said they struggled with Kay’s Oasis and are against this proposal.
Responded Ortiz Guerrero: “I can promise there won’t be any partying on the sidewalk and a lot of things I’ll work on is because I will be on premises – while the building is open I will be there.”
Another abutter, Christine, who did not give a last name, said, “I don’t feel like the events will end at 2 a.m. Living on Blue Hill Avenue when there is an event that ends at 2 a.m. we know they don’t go home. They stay out all night drinking and playing music from their cars.”
Other neighbors said there are already problems at the property now.
“They already had chairs out and music going and I’m leaving for work at 4 a.m.,” said abutter Tracy Austin. “I don’t think I’d like it to be loud and rowdy on my street at 9 p.m. and I have to get up.”
Added Lewis: “You have people going in the building now and setting up on the sidewalk drinking and playing dominos and music going – and it’s not even open yet.”
Quipped Christine: “I can already feel the bass vibrations at night when I’m in my bed.”
Ortiz Guerrero insisted that sort of activity would not happen on her watch. She explained that the disturbance came from the sound and speaker installers who work late at night.
“There is a new speaker system being installed and the people that have been doing the installation are coming from New York and do come late at night to work sometimes. I will make sure we adjust that,” she said.
Other concerns included parking on Blue Hill Avenue beyond midnight, as daily street sweeping occurs at midnight with no parking allowed. The Blue Hill Avenue reconstruction plans were also brought up as another potential problem for parking if only one lane is built out at that location.
Boston Police Sgt. Shawn Harris said the B-3 district would like to have a conversation with El Punto ownership.
“I want to note that your security company has no police powers, so if they drive around the neighborhood and see an illegally parked car or something else, all they can do is reach out to us,” he said.
“I’m also telling you we will not have the kind of manpower to put a Code 19 (fixed post) in front of your business…We struggle now to cover all the spots we already have.”
Ortiz Guerrero said she wants to work with the community on the plan.
“We don’t want to come bringing any issues,” she said. “We are ready to host community meetings in the space…I will always try my best and work with your groups.”
The next step in the process is to meet with community and civic groups. Fatima Ali-Salaam, president of the Greater Mattapan Neighborhood Council (GMNC), said the proposal is not yet on their upcoming agenda, but could be added.
Copyright © 2026 Boston Neighborhood News, Inc. This content may not be re-published or re-used without written permission.
