Medford Reduces Seating Requirement in Liquor License Ordinance

More restaurants are now eligible for liquor licenses in Medford, but a new ordinance hasn't caused of flood of applications.

The ordinance change, approved by Governor Deval Patrick last month, reduces the required number of seats at a restaurant seeking a full liquor license from 99 to 50.

City Councilor Paul Camuso oversaw the ordinance changes in serving as the chairman of the council's licensing board. The ordinance change aims at making Medford a more appealing location for restauranteurs, Camuso said in a phone interview last week.

"I think it will help us bring in quality businesses," Camuso said. "That’s really the whole point of this."

As of the end of last week, no businesses already open in Medford had applied for a full liquor license under the new ordinance.

The ordinance change was approved by the city council by a 6-0 vote, with Councilor Robert Penta absent. Mayor Michael McGlynn signed off on the proposed ordinance change in July; it was approved by Gov. Deval Patrick Sept. 13.

It isn't the first time Medford has loosened its liquor ordinance recently. In 2008, the city reduced its seating requirement for full liquor license eligibility from 250 to 99 seats. Restaurants with 19 or more seats are allowed to have a beer and wine license, but can't serve hard liquor or mixed drinks.