New World Tavern, one of downtown’s best-known venues, has been shuttered for a week after the Select Board suspended its liquor license on Dec. 10. The bar and restaurant had been serving alcohol, despite not having liquor liability insurance in place as required by law.
A handwritten sign on the Main Street business’s door Monday said it “unexpectedly had to close for the weekend” and would “re-open on Tuesday,” Dec.17. But Casey Kennedy, the town’s communications coordinator, said late Monday that Town Hall had not yet received proof that New World Tavern’s liquor liability insurance has been reinstated. Until that happens, the license suspension will remain in place.
Karl Heine, the restaurant’s owner, told the Select Board last week that the policy was suspended by his insurance carrier earlier this month until he could show that it is in compliance with what he called “a couple of minor” safety issues, such as highlighting some steps with tape to make them more visible.
“We’ve been there 15 years, and no one’s ever asked me to do these things before,” Heine said.
In addition to putting tape on the stairs, he said, the insurance company wants evidence that an inspection of the kitchen stove’s hood and automatic fire suppression system had been conducted. During the Select Board meeting, Heine said he hoped to have the situation quickly rectified. But he also admitted that he was still selling alcoholic beverages without liability insurance. That put his business – and possibly the town – at risk in the event of an incident related to drinking.
“If something happens in your establishment and we know that you don’t have liability insurance and we let you operate, the Town of Plymouth is liable for anything that happens in your establishment,” Select Board member Charlie Bletzer told Heine before striking a softer tone.
“Especially this time of year, I hate to see any business not being able to operate,” he said.
This is the second time this year that Heine has allowed his liquor liability insurance to lapse. He did not face any repercussions for the prior infraction. Attempts to reach him for comment were unsuccessful.
Heine appeared before the Select Board on Aug. 6 after members were told that he was doing business without liquor liability insurance. In fact, the town had been trying to obtain proof of coverage from him since January, Town Manager Derek Brindisi told the board at the August hearing.
“This is just crazy,” Select Board chair Dick Quintal said at that hearing.
“Eight months,” he said, referring to the time between January and August, during which the town did not know the status of the business’s liability coverage. Quintal urged Brindisi to refer non-compliant bar owners to the Select Board “the minute it happens and take action accordingly.”
By the time the Aug. 6 hearing was held, Heine had received an insurance binder from his carrier. A binder provides proof of insurance until the insured receives the formal insurance policy. Because of that, the board took no action to suspend his license.
Brindisi said then that the town had recently moved the licensing agent’s workspace from the offices of the Select Board to the Department of Inspectional Services.
“We’re hoping that any future communication breakdown will be mitigated by having the individual work in the department that does this work, day in and day out,” he said.
“You got a good place,” Bletzer told Heine then. “Good luck.”
But by last week, the board’s patience with Heine had run out. It voted 5-0 to suspend his license effective immediately and to require him to provide monthly proof of his liquor liability insurance coverage until the end of 2025.
“We suspended the license pending proof of validity of insurance and we hope that they are able to provide proof of valid liquor liability insurance as soon as possible so that they can reopen, and this longstanding business can continue to operate,” Kevin Canty, Select Board vice chair, told the Independent.
The restaurant could have continued to operate without selling alcoholic beverages, but Heine said he chose to close it until his license is restored.
Despite the latest violation, Bletzer again sounded sympathetic to Heine’s predicament.
“I know this is the Christmas season,” he told him. “I know you got parties.”
Fred Thys can be reached at fred@plymouthindependent.org.