Closed Japanese Steak House Holds onto Liquor License

The granted permission to hold onto its liquor license until the spring, in hope of selling the unused license before that time.

Miyako Japanese Steak House, located at 10 Newbury St. (Route 1) closed in February 2011, due to estate tax issues. When they attended the Selectmen meeting on June 21 for a public hearing, former restaurant manager Philip Fei Pan said the business was planning to transfer the license, and the board asked them to return back in six months for an update.

At the Dec. 20 meeting, Pan said the restaurant was working with an investor who wanted to take over the existing location and turn it into a sports bar/restaurant, with a small function facility.

But then, a few weeks prior to the meeting, the investor changed his mind, Pan said, leaving the business back at square one.

Two other buyers are interested in the location, Pan said, but they are still in negotiation. When the selectmen questioned how long he expected the transaction to take, Pan said, "Personally, I really want to get it done as soon as possible. Hopefully, in a couple of months."

Selectman Gardner Trask reminded Miyako that the town's bylaw requires the license holder to appear to renew an unused license every six months. Miyako Steakhouse came before the Selectmen because of the board's outreach, not on their own agenda.

The board unanimously decided to have Miyako return for an update at the first selectmen's meeting in April. At that time the board can choose to suspend or revoke the license, or set a further date.