The Square Rigger was hit with a liquor and entertainment license suspension this week for serving alcohol and amplifying outdoor music late into the night.

The Edgartown select board voted during a hearing Monday to suspend the licenses for 60 days effective immediately after two separate violations in August and October where alcohol was served after 1 a.m. During both instances the liquor license holder was not at the restaurant at the Triangle intersection.

The suspension will last for 60 days.

Ray Ewing

The suspension will last for 60 days.

Ray Ewing

“I think in a lot of cases here with one police call after hours party [it] would jeopardize your license,” said select board member Alex Morrison. “You’ve had two.”

Carlos Gomes Teles Filho, former owner of the Square Rigger, sold the business in March to Mario Selicio. Soon after the restaurant was sold, Mr. Selicio suffered an accident that has put him in the hospital and the liquor license was not able to be transferred over. 

Mr. Teles, who owns a landscaping company, plans to part ways with the restaurant entirely once the license can be transferred, but said he will continue to help the new owner in the meantime.

“What they’re trying to do is kind of survive,” Mr. Teles said. “It’s not easy to operate the restaurant.”

The select board approved an entertainment license under Mr. Teles’ name in September after he told them the restaurant wanted to host private parties with outdoor music to help bring in business.

Mr. Teles said he’s been checking in on the restaurant periodically to make sure everything is running smoothly. When he heard of the incidents, he told the employees they needed to make sure private parties did not violate town laws. 

“I was very clear with them [and said] this is not acceptable,” Mr. Teles said. 

The select board told Mr. Teles that the new owners could file to transfer the licenses which could be surrendered at any time.