Selectmen To Decide Fate of TGI Friday's Liquor License

On December 17 2014, just after 12:30 a.m., a Maynard man, 37, drove his Jeep into the front lobby of TGI Friday’s in Shoppers World in Framingham.

The vehicle struck two women who were on the sidewalk. Their injuries included a broken bone and a concussion. The restaurant also sustained structural damage.

According to a police investigation, the man was served five 1-ounce shots of alcohol and five beers within a two and half hour period.

The bartender at the restaurant told Framingham Police he did served the Maynard man and five of his friends about 20 shots, seven mixed drinks, and 8 beers over two and a half hours.

On April 30, Framingham Selectmen held a liquor license public hearing to consider punishment for TGI Friday’s.

No decision was reached and the hearing was continued until tonight, June 16.

Back in April, Framingham Police were recommending the all-liquor license for Friday’s be suspended for 5 days, with 3 days to be served and 2 days to be held in abeyance for 1 year.

Selectman Cheryl Tully Stoll, at the April 30 hearing, said she was not satisfied with the proposed 5-day suspension, given the fact the suspect drove into the building and could have caused a fatality. There were five other people who were drinking with this individual, and they all could have been involved in a serious accident. The suspension should be proportionate, she said.

Selectman Michael Bower agreed and made a motion at the April 30 meeting to have TGI Friday’s all-liquor license suspended for 15 days, with 7 days to be served and 8 days to be held in abeyance for one year.

Selectman Chair Charlie Sisitsky asked what the restaurant had done to make sure an incident would not happen again.

The restaurant said it terminated the bartender. And the restaurant said it had put into place a program that the third beverage served to a customer prompts a notification to the manager who goes right to the table to speak with the customer.

Attorney Albert A. DeNapoli, who was representing TGI Friday’s, objected to Bower’s motion of a 15 day suspension, which was seconded by Tully Stoll. He said the restaurant and the Framingham Police had reached an agreement and wanted Selectmen to accept the agreement to suspend the all-alcohol license for just 5 days.

Selectman Laurie Lee also felt in April the 5-day penalty was not severe enough and made a motion for the restaurant and Framingham Police to work out a new agreement. Bower removed his motion and Selectmen voted 4-0 in favor of Lee’s motion.

This is not the first violation for TGI Friday’s.

In 2012, the Shoppers World restaurant received a warning from the Alcohol Beverage Control Commission for allowing a person under age 21 to possess alcohol.

in 2000, Framingham Selectmen issued a combined 9-day suspension for selling alcohol to minors. A 3-day suspension for a violation on April 15 and a 6-day suspension for a violation on April 20, 2000.