Framingham Board revokes Café Belo's license to operate as a nightclub

FRAMINGHAM – The City Council voted Monday to temporarily suspend the liquor license of a Brazilian barbecue restaurant and also temporarily suspend its entertainment license after allegations the restaurant was operating as a nightclub.

The Board of Licensing Commissions has voted to suspend Café Belo’s liquor license after city safety authorities found the restaurant was operating under “nightclub conditions.” The board voted 4-1 to suspend the restaurant’s liquor license for three consecutive days within 30 days of the decision made during Monday’s meeting.

However, board members also raised questions during the meeting about the type of entertainment offered at Café Belo, which led board members in a 3-2 vote to suspend the restaurant’s entertainment license for 14 days until Mayor Charlie Sisitsky makes a decision on whether to suspend the license on Sundays as well.

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Commissioner Alycia DeAngelis was the only one to vote against suspending the liquor license, citing social media evidence of the nightclub’s activities.

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Opening in early 2023, Café Belo is located at 2 Beacon Street, a location that has seen multiple alcohol violations at previous establishments, including Angry Ham’s Garage and Beacon Street Bar & Grill, the former of which appeared on the reality TV show “Bar Rescue” in 2011.

Police authorities object to restaurant opening until 2 a.m.

Concerns were previously raised when Café Belo applied for a non-alcoholic restaurant license and a general restaurant license in June 2022.

In a letter to the licensing board, Lt. Thomas McCarthy, chief of the Framingham Police Department’s licensing office, wrote that a 2 a.m. closing would pose a threat to public safety because Framingham has limited public transportation and taxis for those who cannot drive themselves after drinking at the establishment. In addition, he wrote, walking home is not a safe alternative either, given the high number of fatal pedestrian accidents.

McCarthy told the board during Monday night’s meeting that Louis Costa, the manager and owner of Café Belo, was cooperating with the investigation.

In addition, Costa said he has already begun making changes to ensure overcrowding does not occur again. Costa told the board he has two employees at the doors checking and counting the number of guests entering. He later said he has private security on site, but could not provide the name of the security contractor when asked.

Brazilian restaurant has alcohol and entertainment licenses revoked

The allegations of activity at a nightclub stem from an incident in March in which Framingham police and fire personnel were called to a medical emergency. Although the incident was unfounded, public safety officials noted that Café Belo was overcrowded, with loud music and dim lights.

According to the state, a nightclub is defined as a high-density venue with features such as dim lighting, music above normal noise levels, late-night hours, tables and seating that form blurred aisles, a dedicated area for dancing, and a beverage outlet with limited food options.

Licensing committee members raised concerns that Café Belo was violating its entertainment license, which allows acoustic guitar and a DJ with a keyboard. Several committee members mentioned Café Belo’s social media accounts, which promote bands and feature videos of large groups of people.

“Acoustic means just the guitar, no amplifier on it; that’s the spirit of this entertainment license,” Licensing Committee Chairman Stu Pologe told Costa.

“I saw a video here on Instagram from Carnival Belo and you could see people dancing,” added Commissioner Laura Medrano. “There’s a band, there are women in skimpy dresses – this is not a restaurant with an acoustic guitar.”

Owner also agrees to pay a fee of $300; Mayor decides on Sunday status

However, Pologe and Medrano both voted against the vote to suspend the entertainment license after Commissioner Shannon McCollough made a motion to suspend the entertainment license for 14 days. Medrano said 14 days would hurt business, which she did not want.

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