Eclipse restaurant in Northampton surrenders liquor license for three days
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NORTHAMPTON - The owner and manager of Eclipse restaurant on Main Street surrendered its liquor license for three days under an agreement approved unanimously Wednesday by the city License Commission.
The agreement, which was recommended by city police, came in response to a complaint police filed against the restaurant Oct. 30 for allegedly serving alcohol to four underage Smith College students. Police said college officials contacted them after discovering the students were intoxicated during a fire alarm at their dorm that night.
The complaint alleges that Zachariah Gorham, 38, the cook at the restaurant, served the alcohol to the students during an impromptu Halloween party he hosted at the business during a night while the city was without power. Police said they discovered Gorham - who was not present at Wednesday's commission meeting - around 10 p.m. Oct. 30, sitting naked in a booth at the restaurant with his girlfriend, surrounded by partially filled wine glasses and open wine bottles.
Commission member Stephanie Levin called the agreement "an appropriate resolution" to the police complaint.
Member William Rosen agreed, though he also called Gorham's apparent decision to serve alcohol to underage students, "a failure of judgement, a pretty spectacular one."
No criminal charges were filed in connection with the incident.
The restaurant's liquor license is held by Gorham's mother, Jean Weller of Chesterfield, who owns and manages the restaurant. She was present at Wednesday's commission meeting. Under the agreement, she will surrender the restaurant's liquor license through Saturday. Eclipse may continue to serve food during that period.
"Do you agree that these alleged events occurred?" Commission Chairman Brad Shimel asked Weller, referring to the police complaint.
"I assume that they occurred," she replied. "I wasn't there at the time."
"But you're not challenging these allegations?" Shimel asked.
"No," Weller said.
Weller declined to speak to reporters in the hallway outside City Council chambers following the commission's decision on Wednesday. Instead, she referred questions to John Casey Douglass, chef and owner of the Apollo Grill in Easthampton, who described himself as "a consultant and a potential partner" for Eclipse.
Douglass, who attended Wednesday's commission's meeting, said he has been in negotiations with Weller about becoming a partner in Eclipse since well before the police filed their complaint.
"There are a lot of attractive things about the business," he said. "And Zach can really cook."
Douglass said that Gorham has been "overwhelmed" by responsibilities at the restaurant. "He's like I was years ago when I first opened a business," Douglass said. "I think we should let him do what he's good at."
He added that he is looking forward to being a "mentor" to Gorham.
Several minutes later, Weller could be seen posting a sign on the door of Eclipse. Inside, Gorham stood talking with Douglass and several other people. He declined a request by the Gazette for an interview.
Besides Gorham, others who had been scheduled to appear at Wednesday's violation hearing were Gorham's girlfriend, Angela Dupuis of Southampton; city police officers William LeBrun and Adam Van Buskirk; and two Smith College resident advisers.
Comments
Ah, kids.
"There are a lot of attractive things about the business," he said. "And Zach can really cook."
That's what Angela said, too.
really?
seems kind of excessive. unless i missed a bunch of previous license violations. and will the underage drinkers be charged soon?