The Licensing Board approved all of the licenses presented to them Monday night.

PITTSFIELD, Mass. — The Licensing Board approved transferring the liquor license of the Madison Cafe to new owner William Molner and approved the owners of Flavours of Malasia running the restaurant at the GEAA.

 

Molner is purchasing the cafe on Madison Avenue under MadCaf LLC. He had previously worked as a bartender there as well as at the American Legion. He is selling his current business to buy and operate the cafe for $400,000.

 

"He'll be selling his business to devote full time to running the Madison Cafe," attorney Anthony Doyle told the Licensing Board on Monday. 

 

The board approved the transfer but told Molner that he has "big shoes" to fill because the city has had no trouble with that license. Molner said he will "continue that reputation."

 

"This is the sale of a long-running establishment in the city of Pittsfield," said Licensing Board Chairman Carmen Massimiano.

 

The restaurant at the GE Athletic Association, recently known as Back 9 Bar and Grill, doesn't have such an impeccable past. The board approved Wilson Tam, the son of Sabrina Tam who runs Flavours of Malasia, to manage the restaurant but gave the Tams a shot over the bow saying the restaurant attracts trouble.

 

"It is a place that has a tendency that it could create problems," said board member Richard Stockwell. 

 

In the last year, manager Linda Babich has started to turn that reputation around in running Fairways at the A. But, before then underage drinking and fights led to the suspension of the license under manager Brian Uliasz. 

 

"There were significant issues with people getting hurt and then not cooperating with police," Massimiano said. 

 

Doyle, representing the Tams as well, cited a positive record at Flavours of Malasia and Wilson Tam vowed to be on premise more than 40 hours a week. 

 

"The history of Flavours has been very good," Doyle said. 

 

The new restaurant, which will be named Tavern at the A, will feature "American food cooked to order," according to Sabrina Tam and it will continue holding entertainment on the weekends and sometimes during the week. The licenses are tied to the GEAA and if the manager leaves, the licenses will stay with the property.

 

Also on Monday, the board approved a liquor license for the new Hilton Garden being built on South Street with Scott McKinney, who boasts more than 15 years in the hospitality and restaurant business. He most recently worked for a Hilton Garden in Maine. The hotel is expected to open by Memorial Day.