Downtown Canton restaurant penalized for multiple liquor infractions

The Canton Select Board on Tuesday unanimously agreed to temporarily suspend the liquor license held by Panda Gold while also implementing additional restrictions related to entertainment at the downtown Canton restaurant. The license suspension will run from December 29 to January 2 — which includes the traditionally busy New Year’s Eve holiday — and after that period the restaurant will be required to stop serving alcohol at midnight instead of 1 a.m. In addition, the board informed the owners that they cannot host a DJ or allow patrons to play billiards for the foreseeable future.

Panda Gold, which touts its “authentic and delicious tasting Chinese and Asian cuisine,” is located in the Walgreen’s shopping plaza in downtown Canton. Canton Police Chief Helena Rafferty and Sergeant Mike Brady both spoke at the hearing and pointed to multiple instances since 2021 where police were called because of noise complaints, alcohol being served after hours, altercations in the parking lot, and patrons departing with cups of alcohol. Rafferty said one patron was found passed out in a running car after being served by restaurant staff, and in another incident, a patron’s car was stolen out of the parking lot, but when later recovered, police found drugs and drug paraphernalia in the vehicle.

Town Counsel Rich Hucksam, who questioned Rafferty and Brady about the alleged incidents, told the Select Board that regardless of the penalty they impose, Panda Gold has the legal right to appeal the suspension.

The complaints so angered Select Board member Tom Theodore that at one point he shouted that he was ready to revoke Panda Gold’s license immediately, but he later relented to Select Board Chair John Connolly’s suggestion of the five-day license suspension and entertainment restrictions.

Connolly and Vice Chair Lisa Lopez said if the restaurant does not clean up its act, or if there are any future violations, they would be inclined to push for a revocation hearing.

All of the board members (minus Mike Loughran, who was unable to attend) agreed that the owners of Panda Gold were not adhering to the terms of their license agreement nor honoring the wishes of the Canton Police Department.

Rafferty said what is most concerning to her is the fact that the owners have taken no responsibility for the complaints.

Attorney Jonathan Ash, representing Panda Gold, apologized to the town and Select Board on behalf of his clients and said they do accept responsibility for the infractions. He added that they have ordered all waitstaff, bartenders and security staff to be retrained and they plan to hire a bar manager and additional security personnel.

“I’ve had it,” said Connolly. “I have calls from neighbors, businesses, the Canton Police Department. Your words are hollow. I am worried that people might be killed. The owners have to realize this is the town’s license, not theirs.”

The board agreed to review the restaurant and bar operations in six months and may reinstate the prior provisions if the reports are positive.

In other news from the December 6 meeting …

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Posted by Mike Berger on Dec 9 2022. Filed under News, Town Government. Both comments and pings are currently closed.