FROED One Government Center Fall River, MA 02722-7700 Tel 508-324-2620 Fax 508-677-2840 info@froed.org		FIRST OF TEN NEW LIQUOR LICENSES OK’D Board approval opens the door for a wine and tapas restaurant downtown The Herald News, Tuesday, July 29, 2008 - Page A1 Fall River — Three city businessmen preparing to open an eatery serving alcohol next to Georgio’s Steak House plan to renovate their quarters after receiving Licensing Board approval for the first of 10 new liquor licenses the city’s made available. Pending expected endorsement by the state Alcoholic Beverage Control Commission, the owners won’t need to ante up a five-figure sum to obtain the liquor license, said Jeffrey Diogo, vice president of their newly established Vintage Group Corp. and Vintage Wine & Tapas (tapas, meaning appetizers in Spanish). “We hope to open before the end of the year,” Diogo, a contractor, said of his business with his cousin, Adelino A. Jacob, who will manage the restaurant, and Leonildo Sousa, who’s owned the Raw Martini for several years and has worked in the field for 16 years. “We’re all going to participate,” Diogo said. A few weeks ago they purchased the century-old, two-story stucco building at 10-14 Third St. from Heavenly Ventures Inc., which ran a coffee shop. The purchase price listed on their application was $130,000. Georgio’s Steak House, owned by the Karousos family, has been closed since June, its owner saying the restaurant was undergoing summer renovations after city inspectors cited them for a water problem. Diogo, whose 2,500-square-foot building houses a vacant apartment upstairs, said their plans are to have a luncheon deli on the first floor for daytime business and wine and tapas in an elegant second-floor setting for nighttime social activity. Once the ABCC grants permission, plans will be draw up for the renovations, he said. Two months ago, Mayor Robert Correia initiated an economic development zone that the Licensing Board bolstered by approving 10 special downtown licenses the city would control. There is no cost for the licenses beyond filing fees of $156 to the city and $200 to the state. In turn, the liquor licenses awarded within these boundaries would revert back to the city if ownership changes or those with the license wish to relocate. City officials estimated a liquor license typically can cost about $30,000. Diogo said he’s seen them range from $20,000 to $60,000. “It’s a means to increase additional private sector investment,” Kenneth J. Fiola Jr., executive vice president of the Fall River Office of Economic Development, said. “It just makes it easier. There’s not that many licenses (available) in the city,” said Diogo, who said their renovations will be extensive. Although theirs was the first special license application submitted to the Licensing Board, city officials said half a dozen interested parties have taken out the five-page forms available at Government Center. Corporation Counsel Arthur D. Frank Jr. said they expect more filings. Back