WORCESTER — The status of the planned downtown location for the Shaking Crab, a Newton-based restaurant chain, is uncertain with the restaurant operator claiming their landlord's ventilation installation request is not acceptable to their engineer.

During a Thursday status hearing at the License Commission, the Shaking Crab co-founder Kevin Duong said issues with installing ventilation that have delayed construction on the 544 Main St. site have not improved since the chain's last update to the commission on May 4.

Duong said he was unsure about what his company's next steps would be for the site.

"I'm not quite sure; we've never been in this situation before," Duong said.

The developer said it is still excited about working with the Shaking Crab and said it has a team ready to build the ventilation plans they desire.

The chain is used to having ventilation go to the roof, Duong said. He added the strong smell of garlic and spices has led to other cities requesting his other locations be extra clean to keep the odors from wafting out.

If completed, the storefront would be across Main Street from The Hanover Theatre for the Performing Arts.

The Shaking Crab bills itself as a Cajun seafood restaurant, its trademark being sauces, spices and fish mixed in a bag before serving.

The chain has about 24 locations, most outside Massachusetts.

The building where the chain wants to host its Worcester location is owned by the Menkiti Group, a development company that has bought a handful of downtown properties in recent years. The company paid $2.85 million for the building in 2018.

According to restaurant management, the chain's engineer planned for the restaurant's ventilation exhaust to go through the roof, but the Menkiti Group insisted the restaurant have the exhaust go through the alley on the side of the building.

While plans to have the exhaust go through the alley received approval, the engineer they hired has not signed onto the plan and builders they contacted would not agree to build it without a waiver, the co-founder said.

Duong said he did not have much trust for the Menkiti Group, saying it has previously promised to handle ventilation but Duong feels the developer has shifted the responsibility onto the Shaking Crab team.

Duong said he would still love to open in Worcester.

In a statement the Menkiti Group said it still wants to work with the Shaking Crab to open a downtown location and that its team is willing to construct their proposed alley ventilation system.

"We remain excited about having Shaking Crab as a tenant at 554 Main St., and as a landlord, we take great pride in our buildings and the responsibility we have to our tenants to deliver safe, functional and enjoyable spaces. The first floor of this building has been planned for various retail uses for a long time, and with that programming we have vetted and permitted exhaust systems in compliance with all codes and regulations," the statement read. "Venting to our privately owned alley provides a safe system as building-side venting is common in the city.  We have our construction team ready to begin the work and execute the permitted design. We look forward to moving forward on this project with the Shaking Crab and celebrating their grand opening in the near future."

A representative for the Fire Department asked Duong if the chain has looked into a ventless hood and exhaust system. Duong replied he was not aware of the system.

The License Commission continued the hearing to June 29 so the Shaking Crab could evaluate the ventless system and talk more with the Menkiti Group. If the issue is not resolved, the commission could look at a cessation of business and the city could assist in finding another location.

Other License Commission news

Family Ties Pizzeria, a proposed pizza restaurant at 121 Millbury St., received a common victualer's license.

Mía Cane, a juice bar specializing in sugarcane drinks and acaí bowls, received a common victualer's license. The juice bar is planning to open at the former Neal Rosenblum Goldsmiths Gallery at 261B Park Ave.

This article originally appeared on Telegram & Gazette: Shaking Crab seafood restaurant Worcester location ventilation hangup