The city warned the Our Lady of Mount Carmel Social Club that if it continues to schedule "18-and-over" events where alcohol is served, it risks a suspension of its alcohol license and entertainment license.
SPRINGFIELD — The city has issued a cease-and-desist order against the Our Lady of Mount Carmel Society Inc. for scheduling “18 and over” events where patrons under age 21 were allowed entry to events where alcohol was being served.
In a letter from the city law department, Assistant City Solicitor Stephen M. Reilly Jr. notified the club, on Winthop Street in the city’s South End, that the city recently learned the club has hosted two such event on May 4 and May 11, and neither had been authorized by the city.
It notifies club manager Raffaele Russo that he will be called before the city Board of License Commissioners to explain why the club never sought permitting for either event.
The letter warns the club that if it continues to schedule “18-and-over” events where alcohol is served, it risks a suspension of its alcohol license, its entertainment license, or both.
The letter was hand-delivered Wednesday afternoon by the Springfield Police Department to the club.
Russo could not be reached for comment.
The city for the last several years has had a policy curbing under-21 events. The events are not restricted outright, but venues must apply for and be granted a special event permit from the city.
“The city put the under-21 event policy in place to assure public safety is a priority,” Mayor Domenic Sarno said in a prepared statement. “The city has had a policy for under-21 events, and in this case it has not been followed.”
The two events, a Cinco de Mayo party on May 4 and a “NYC Saturday” party, each featured DJ Daddy Monchy. Each was advertised on posters as “18+ to party, 21+ to drink.”
The under-21 restriction was put in place in 2009 primarily in response to several downtown nightclubs where there had been problems with violence. The restrictions were upheld when a 2011 court ruling rejected a suit against the city by Skyplex nightclub at Stearns Square.
Mt. Carmel Cease and Desist Letter and Flyers by masslive