Longtime summer resident and restaurateur Patrick Lyons appeared before the Tisbury planning board this week to present his proposal for a Mexican restaurant at the Stone Bank property in Vineyard Haven.
Longtime summer resident and restaurateur Patrick Lyons appeared before the Tisbury planning board this week to present his proposal for a Mexican restaurant at the Stone Bank property in Vineyard Haven.
Mr. Lyons, who owns Back Door Donuts in Oak Bluffs and more than 40 restaurants in the Boston area and elsewhere, told the board the downtown restaurant on Union and Main streets would be a simple taqueria.
“We’re playing with the name [and] the brand,” he said Wednesday evening, adding that he’s calling it Locals Only for now.
The restaurant is planned to be part of developer Sam Dunn’s mixed-use complex under construction at the former Santander bank property. The taqueria was added to the project after the proposed development already received its 2021 approval from the Martha’s Vineyard Commission.
Because the original decision was for apartments, retail and office space only, the restaurant first required a modification hearing before the commission, which began last December.
Commissioners voted 7-3 in mid-February to approve the 70-seat, outdoor restaurant and bar, but left a number of details — such as hours of operation, alcohol service, noise and lighting — for town officials to decide.
On Wednesday, Tisbury planning board members questioned Mr. Lyons on the taqueria’s environmental practices and discussed opening and closing times, among other details of the proposed operation.
His company is committed to using biodegradable service wares and other sustainability measures, the restaurateur said.
“It’s enlightened self-interest for us to try to figure out a way that we can use reusable containers,” Mr. Lyons said.
His preferred hours of service would be 11 a.m. to 10:30 p.m., he told the planning board.
Board member Connie Alexander expressed qualms about the late closing time, but member Elaine Miller said it would fill the gap in downtown nightlife that comes after the Martha’s Vineyard Playhouse lets out around 9 p.m.
“We’d like to stroll our Main street after that. It would be pleasant. But we don’t, because nothing is open,” Ms. Miller said.
After speaking with Mr. Lyons, the board voted to close the taqueria hearing and keep the written record open until 5:30 p.m. April 17.
Planning board deliberations on the taqueria are set to begin April 19 at 6:30 p.m.
Comments
For your information.
Frank Brunelle Vineyard HavenFor your information.
We were in business as Crispin's Landing from 1981 until 1999 and stayed open until 10 at night. We were able to do this when almost no other stores were open because of two important factors. Bunch of Grapes also stayed open and there was an active movie theater that let out late and it was worth it on that basis. But most stores were closed. And for the record, there was a regular stand-by line for the Steamship Authority in that period and that was a boon for Tisbury businesses as people were looking for things to do and business would always pick up and not just for small ticket items. And finally, for the record, we noticed up island customers declined when State Road traffic became too busy and another very important issue is parking spaces being made available. That is a critical issue. As far as the taqueria idea is concerned, sounds like a great idea. Best of Luck to you.
I fully support this. This
Jim VHI fully support this. This will be good for the Downtown and will help other restaurants. Right now no one really goes to VH as a destination for dinner. Plus we could use a good Mexican restaurant .
I would like to hear from
Dana Hodsdon VHI would like to hear from other board members and island people that say they would visit this establishment often.
One person does not make a business sustainable (Mrs. Miller). Also has anyone taken into consideration that it would be smack dab in the middle of residents? Drink, fun, laughter and music until?
What a shame to lose what
Bob EdgartownWhat a shame to lose what little open green space there was going to be around these homes. Greed always wins out and that is what is going on here. They agreed to the open space so lets keep it open space. Or this was the plan all along get the project approved and then change to what you really want.
Bob
Elaine T. Miller Vineyard HavenBob
You can review the final plan which shows a large green space which will be developed to the benefit of we residents, Island guests and residents of the immediate community and abutters. It will be a mini-park in a mixed use plan. I think you will be pleased.
I love tacos, but can I cast
Mack and the boys OBI love tacos, but can I cast a vote for calling the restaurant something besides Locals Only? That's just a ridiculous name.
If you pay attention to
Inde West tisburyIf you pay attention to proposals of well known island developers you’ll see that it is the norm to propose and then later amend. I believe the OB bowling alley was to have its own septic but that was later amended. No surprise. This is how developers work. The amendments appear to be planned from the start. Of course developers do this because it works! The bigger question in my opinion is why do towns let them do this?! Or, why do citizens let the towns let the developers do this?! Maybe big changes are upsetting but piecemeal changes are easier to accept? Maybe we are frogs in a pot of warming water?
What's so wrong with a little
Anne Luzzatto Vineyard HavenWhat's so wrong with a little 'drink, fun, laughter'? Dunn's projects are always beautifully designed and in keeping with the Vineyard's unique vibe. I think this would be a wonderful addition to Tisbury's life...theatre goers, movie goers, shoppers, strollers and others would have a joyful place to convene in both day and evening. So called 'greed' has zero to do with this proposal. It is a creative and attractive use of the space.
Woe are we!! IT seems
Doreen Kinsman Main Street,Vineyard Haven MAWoe are we!! IT seems inevitable when greed and ambition join forces that the peaceful former days enjoyed by us Vineyard Haven residents will be sacrificed without our approval. Downtown is already defaced by the array of multi-colored residences adjacent to the SSA. which loom inappropriately, off of Union Street, and whose costs to rent or buy will exceed I expect any ordinary island citizen's to pay..
Now a taqueria to seat 70 is to invade that lovely historical old stone building, directly across from a new fish restaurant with outdoor patio extending right to the pedestrian sidewalk. We too must endure a loud drumming, vocal music three day event this summer., he sounds of which extend way past the library. Our town has been the sole intact unique oasis until now, from the summer madness experienced by our other two down island sisters.. It appears inevitable that we are about to join them.Free enterprise sadly seems always to superceed any tranquility for its residents.More's the pity.
You live in a harbor town on
michael chilmarkYou live in a harbor town on an island to some degree dependent on tourism .The shops lining Main St likely require a steady flow of visitors to be profitable. Opposing a well=planned dining restaurant or take-out establishment ignores these realities.
The plan was to have to
Abby Normal The RockThe plan was to have to restaurant all along. It was not proposed at first but presented as a green area. An above response mentioned the septic then request to connect in OB. Same developer. Hmmmm, is that a pattern?
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