Selectman Approve License for Sit-Down Service at Orange Leaf

After a brief misunderstanding of the town's by-law, Natick's Board of Selectman approved a Common Victualer's License on Sept. 6 for the owner of Orange Leaf.

Orange Leaf, a self-serve frozen yogurt shop located at 213 North Main St., in the Route 9 and Route 27 shopping center, is one of about four dozen in Massachusetts.

Proprietor Gerry Pelissier, who also owns shops in Canton and Needham, told the Board he didn't know he needed a license to offer customers seating. Pelissier said the other towns did not require him to apply.

"Had all other of the other licenses in place," Chairwoman Carol Gloff said. "This license is required when you have any type of seating. If it's take out, it's not required. This came up late last week. I didn’t feel an emergency meeting was needed. To be honest I wasn’t going to call a regular meeting but added it to this agenda."

The Selectmen already had planned to meet in executive session.

Orange Leaf officially opened for business in Natick on Aug. 28.

With the license, Pelissier said he can sit 38 customers.

Four of the Selectman approved the license, with Charles Hughes abstaining because he was late to the meeting.

The license will be up for renewal at the end of the year.

"This is a very family oriented business," Pelissier said, adding he has fundraisers at his other shops on Monday nights. "I want to continue that tradition in Natick."