Josh Weinstein, the East Boston resident proposing a new bar on Sumner Street in Jeffries Point, went back before the Jeffries Point Neighborhood Association (JPNA) Monday night and finally received approval by a vote of 27 to 9.
Weinstein proposes to convert the former East Boston Kitchen building into a concept bar and restaurant called The Quiet Few. His original proposal was shot down 14-9 by the JPNA in November with members expressing concerns over the proposed closing hours of 1 a.m. most nights.
Last month, Weinstein came back before the group and rolled back his proposed hours from 1 a.m. to 12 midnight. Sunday through Wednesday and 1 a.m. from Thursday through Saturday.
While some were still weary of a 1 a.m. closure in the predominately residential Jeffries Point neighborhood, Weinstein pointed to an incident that Boston Police reported earlier in the meeting.
“Police were just telling us that someone was mugged late at night walking home alone,” he said. “They also told us that one of the best things we can do if we feel threatened is to try to find a store or a safe place to pop into. That’s what I want The Quiet Few to be for the neighborhood. This would add life and activity in an area of Jeffries Point that is desolate at night.”
Some neighbors agreed with Weinstein with one resident saying she always feels a little uneasy on that particular stretch of Sumner Street and it would be nice to have activity late at night.
Weinstein added that The Quiet Few would not be a rowdy place like the bars that were in and around Jeffries Point decades ago.
“I have 15 years of experience in the business,” said Weinstein. “I know who to serve and who not to serve. I don’t want people in my establishment getting rowdy and causing trouble. I will consider this my second home and I will treat it like my home and I will tell you I would not invite rowdy drunk people into my home.”
Another resident at the meeting said she’d like to see another late night spot open in the neighborhood. As a flight attendant she said sometimes when she gets back to Eastie late there’s no place to eat or grab a drink with friends or fellow flight attendants.
Weinstein’s purchase of the former EBK building is contingent upon him gaining a full liquor license for the site. Weinstein is hoping to get one of the new neighborhood restricted licenses to be able to open up shop.
Weinstein recently deferred a vote by the Licensing Board because he wanted to received neighborhood approval from the JPNA.
“Getting community support from the JPNA is very important to me,” he said.
Weinstein moved to Eastie recently with his wife, and lives on Eagle Hill. He said he was looking for the right place and opportunity to bring his neighborhood pub concept to fruition and found the EBK space available.
On food, Weinstein said his proposed opening would be 11 a.m., and the food would be comfort food and pub fare like sandwiches, burgers, wings, and appetizers for lunch and dinner. A late night bar menu of grilled cheese sandwiches would be offered after 10 p.m. If the bar and restaurant is successful, Weinstein said he would consider opening earlier for breakfast to capture the morning commuters heading past his establishment on their way to the MBTA.
The inside would consist of a kitchen, dinning room seating and a bar with a capacity of about 40 people.