Dancing denied at downtown spot

City Manager Ken Frank’s attempt to broker a compromise between a restaurateur’s request for a live music permit and residential neighbors’ opposition fell on deaf ears Tuesday.

The council didn’t like the deal any better than Romeo Cucina owner Vittorio Romeo, who thought Frank’s compromise was too strict, or neighbor Richard Stoddard, who thought it was too lenient.

Frank’s proposal would have allowed the dancing that Romeo wanted but gave him fewer late night hours of operation than he had requested and no amplified instruments.

Frank also included a condition that the permit be reviewed in six months, rather than the more usual one year, and made it clear that the permit for entertainment was subject to immediate review if a written complaint about noise or patrons’ activities was brought to the attention of City Hall — giving the neighbors some leverage.

The council voted 4-0 to allow no dancing, no amplification, no more than two musicians — neither to be a drummer — with performances to end by midnight on Fridays and Saturdays, 11 p.m. on Thursdays and 10:30 p.m. Mondays-Wednesdays.

“When I am downtown, I want to hear the ocean,” said Councilwoman Toni Iseman, who chaired the meeting.

Mayor Steven Dicterow recused himself from the hearing because he had once worked as maitre d’ of the restaurant.

Entertainment is just a way to boost business, Romeo said.

“Business is good for two months of the year, but it is hard to survive for the other 10 months,” Romeo said. “We need to stimulate the business. I am trying to get some late-night business.”

Downtown property owner and Realtor Mark Christy said he lives five blocks from Ocean Avenue and he can hear every note coming out of Hennessey’s on Ocean Avenue.

“It’s hideous,” Christy said.

Romeo — whose restaurant is on Broadway, a block away — said he was being punished for the noise from Ocean Avenue, and that noise complaints had never been made about noise from this restaurant, although live music and dancing had been featured.

“This is an obvious attempt to turn a restaurant into a nightclub after dining hours,” said residential neighbor Stoddard.

Romeo said the early hours of operation from Monday to Thursday precluded a nightclub operation and anyone who buys a residential unit in a business district has to expect business to be conducted.

But Councilwoman Elizabeth Pearson-Schneider called Romeo’s proposal “nightclub creep.”

“It’s a problem,” she said. “The quality of life is being impacted.”

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