Council Gives Restaurant 30 Days to File or Say Goodbye to License

Peabody city councilors hope some renewed urgency will get Sal Palumbo's attention and motivate the owner of Stonewood Tavern to file plans with the city to scale down the entertainment at his restaurant.

To that end, councilors voted Thursday night to give Palumbo 30 days to file an amended application for his live entertainment license or lose it.

"If we need to make a motion to deny [the license] to get the guy's attention, I'll make it," said Councilor-at-Large Anne Manning-Martin, clearly annoyed at Palumbo's lack of follow through with the council. "I think Stonewood is in some soup, so to speak."

The license was among several other entertainment licenses that expired on Dec. 31 and which the council was due to renew Thursday as a routine matter of business.

Ward 1 Councilor Barry Osborne singled out Stonewood Tavern, however, because he hasn't heard from Palumbo in weeks nor seen an application to modify the license as he (Palumbo) promised two months ago.

Palumbo came under fire from councilors and neighbors of the Lynnfield Street restaurant this fall over complaints that a new function room -- the Amber Room -- had become a rollicking nightclub with eight- to 10-piece bands regularly performing, and loudly.

That was a far cry from the classic jazz trios councilors and neighbors envisioned when Palumbo first received his permits.

Osborne said Palumbo did meet with him and neighbors after the heated council session in November, Palumbo even sent a letter to the council explaining some of the steps he was taking, including firing four staff members.

One of those steps was also a promise to return to the council to modify his entertainment license and clearly specify what would be allowed. The problem is he didn't submit an amended plan and instead merely filed for renewal.

"I hate to say it, but he appears to be flaunting it and challenging us to take a stand. I think it's time to take a stand," said Councilor-at-Large Tom Gould.

Councilor-at-Large Dave Gravel noted, however, the council hasn't actually proved Palumbo violated his license, despite the general consensus. No disciplinary hearing has been held either.

"Is it this council's desire to put the guy out of business or conform his entertainment license to what he's trying to do?" Gravel a

"The intent is not to put him out of business. It was always going to be a cooperative effort," said Osborne, noting Palumbo took responsibility and showed some good faith by meeting with neighbors and addressing their concerns.

"He [said]...he was going to make changes, but we haven't seen that happen. I don't know why, and it's disappointing," Osborne said. "I don't just want to give him what he [had], because we had problems with that."

Councilors ultimately agreed to renew the license for 30 days, in which Palumbo must file an amended application with the city or else lose the license entirely after that point. If he does file, the council will take it up at its next meeting and schedule a public hearing.