Pittsfield Licensing Board Puts Heat on Chili's
PITTSFIELD, Mass. — In January, the Licensing Board will decide if it should start the six-month timer for Chili's to sell its liquor license before it is revoked.
The restaurant closed abruptly in August 2024 and has been looking for a buyer for over a year. Representatives have come before the board a few times with reports that there are interested parties, but no sale.
"The reason that we keep asking you the same old questions, and now it's well over a year after the place closed, is that under state law, if a licensee is not operating, then we have to turn up the heat to see if either the license can be transferred to somebody that will operate, or theoretically, Chili's could go back in and start operating with a license," Chair Thomas Campoli said.
The board will hear from a Chili's representative at the January meeting and discuss whether to begin the six months that the business has to reopen or sell its liquor license. The current lease agreement goes out to 2029, and the company, Pepper Dining Inc., is looking for another business to carry it out.
Director of Northeast Operations Allen Anderson reported that there are a few active buyers in the pipeline right now, but nothing has been solidified. It is his understanding that the intent is to sell what's left of the business, including the building contents and license.
"I talked to counsel this morning, and I think they were maybe re-evaluating what the price we're trying to get for the license and the business," he reported.
He was told that some potential buyers had dropped off, and there has been more recent interest.
Campoli explained that the board could vote on Chili's liquor license by the next meeting, starting the six-month timer, adding, "I mean, in particular, I don't want to do that, but that's what we could do." In Pittsfield, when a liquor license is revoked, that is one less license for the city.
"I got the impression, I have a belief that they may be a little bit more aggressive to seek out a buyer, because I'm sure it's more attractive with a liquor license than it is without," Anderson said.
"… The drawback to that, the whole deal is, is the rent, right? So whoever picks up that, wants to go in there for a restaurant, it's going to have to be somebody that could afford the rent."
Campoli said that if Pepper Dining can provide any specific information that suggests a deal is on the horizon, it would make the delay more palatable.
Board member Kathy Amuso made the motion for an update in January. The six months can likely be extended if the panel sees fit.
Tags: license board, liquor license, restaurants,
