Saugus selectmen – Tabu Violence, Zaza Drinking Violations
Saugus selectmen call Tabu, Zaza on carpet for Liqour Violations
Late night drinking Saugus’ Zaza & Tabu Violence.
By Chris Stevens / The Daily Item
SAUGUS – The Board of Selectmen called for show cause hearings for both Tabu Ultra Lounge and Nightclub and Zaza Restaurant and Nitery following weekend visits by police officers to both establishments.
Officer Daniel Wing stopped by Zaza’s on Route 1 north Sunday at just a few minutes past the 2 a.m. closing time because he reported that he could see patrons inside as well as at a small fenced-in table area located just outside the front door and the patrons appeared to be drinking.
According to the town’s liquor rules and regulations, last call for alcohol is 1:30 a.m. and all patrons must be off the licensed property by 2 a.m.
Police reports indicated the manager said he stopped serving at 1:25 a.m. but patrons were still drinking inside at 2:03 a.m.
Selectmen said Tuesday that was enough for a show cause hearing. The board has been working hard to take a proactive stance with clubs and restaurants, calling them in as soon as a violation takes place rather than letting incidents pile up as they have been accused of in the past.
The board also said it would bring Tabu officials in for a hearing based on two incidents where owners simply opened their door.
Late last year, the board called for, but never scheduled a hearing regarding a fight and shots fired at Mobil on the Run at 1123 Broadway that was tied back to Tabu.
Tuesday, board members said they also received a Police Department memo stating that the club might be operating in violation of its liquor license, largely because it was open. The Amato family, who owns the property, said they foreclosed on the business owners on Jan. 15 because they had stopped paying on the lease. While town officials said they were told the club would close, Frank Amato said Monday that Tabu never closed. That means that Amato has been operating in violation of his liquor license because he never applied to have the license transferred from the former owners back into the family name.
Selectman Michael Serino said attorney Ira Zaleznik, who represents the town on liquor license matters, sent Tabu a letter dated Jan. 22 telling them “they were operating at their own peril.
“While the board voted to hold the show cause hearings, it put off setting a date for them to its next meeting on Feb. 16. Selectman Scott Crabtree said the board, as well as the club owners, would have a better idea of available dates at that point.
