License Commission approves new Café Neo location on Shrewsbury Street
WORCESTER — Following a dispute with the bar's landlord that prevented Café Neo from staying open, the Canal District bar has received License Commission approval Thursday to serve food and drinks as well as host karaoke nights at a new location on Shrewsbury Street.
Café Neo's request for a restaurant all liquor license, common victualer's license and entertainment license at 340 Shrewsbury St. of a TV and karaoke were approved on the condition of approvals for parking access changes by the Department of Inspectional Services.
In April, a Superior Court judge denied a motion that would have allowed popular bar to stay open during a lawsuit with its landlord at its 97 Millbury St. location to renew the bar's lease.
Judge Valerie Yarashus found that Café Neo had not demonstrated a "likelihood of success on the merits" in its case against I.T.C. Realty Corp.
The lawsuit details several years of a relationship between bar owner Panagiotis “Peter” Tsigas and I.T.C. principal Ignatius Chang, which included the 2008 sale from Tsigas to Chang of the Café Neo building, and alleged subsequent discussions over the years for Tsigas to buy back the building, as well as at least one subsequent business partnership that never came to fruition.
According to the lawsuit, Tsigas had a verbal agreement with Chang in the spring of 2022 to extend the bar’s lease at the Millbury Street location.
Chang has denied the allegations in the lawsuit.
The new location plans to be open for lunch Saturday and Sunday from 11 a.m. to 1:30 a.m., and from 4:30 p.m. to 1:30 a.m. Mondays through Fridays.
The site is the former home of Quick Stop Printing. Tsigas confirmed at the License Commission on Thursday that he was going to pave the area behind the building and widen it to improve car access.
Other items
Courthouse Brew Co., a planned brewery at 3 Brussels St., was approved for a pouring permit, a common victualer license and entertainment license.
A Jersey Mike's Subs location is being proposed on Kelley Square, at 187 Madison St. The franchise was approved for a common victualer's license.
Wholly Cannoli, a café and bakery at 490 Grafton St., received a common victualler license for a planned second location at 141 Highland St.
This article originally appeared on Telegram & Gazette: Café Neo in Worcester approved to open Shrewsbury Street location
