Tavern proposed in Danvers for former boutique

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July 26, 2010

By Ethan Forman Staff writer The Salem News Mon Jul 26, 2010, 12:04 AM EDT

DANVERS — Danvers resident Dean Borders wants to open a restaurant and tavern in a former women's boutique in the old Tompkins furniture building at 49 Maple St.

He recently applied to selectmen to transfer the beer and wine license held by the former Cody Brewing Company alehouse to do just that.

Borders, a Burley Farm Road resident, has been trying to obtain Cody's beer and wine license for months, after brewer Sean Cody closed his Danvers Square alehouse in 2009 to open a brewery in Amesbury.

Selectmen have been frustrated by the slow pace of the transfer, and earlier this month the board held a public hearing on whether to suspend, revoke or limit Cody's beer and wine license, since he has not served a drink in more than a year.

However, selectmen continued that public hearing until August, Town Manager Wayne Marquis said, given Borders has found a location downtown.

Finding a location with the right terms has been one of the main stumbling blocks for Borders. Late last year, Borders wanted to reopen the brew pub at its former location at 62 Maple St., but those plans fell through.

In the meantime, he footed the $2,100 renewal fee to keep Cody's license from being revoked.

Borders said he did not want to say too much about his plans other than that he would have a full menu and serve beer, wine and cordials. The idea is not to compete with establishments at the Liberty Tree Mall or Route 114, but to provide a place downtown that people can walk to and have a drink.

The tavern would go into the former Harlow Boutique for Her dress shop between a new Verizon store and the Sawasdee Thai restaurant in the renovated Tompkins building.

The transfer application says Borders plans to install a full kitchen, bar area and handicapped bathrooms, Assistant Town Clerk Kathleen Woytovich said. Borders plans to purchase from Cody $40,000 in equipment, $10,000 in furniture and $25,000 for the license, according to the application, which, if approved by selectmen, must also go to the state Alcoholic Beverages Control Commission for its approval.

A public hearing on the transfer and the continued public hearing to limit the license are both scheduled for Aug. 24.

Staff writer Ethan Forman can be reached at 978-338-2673 or by e-mail at eforman@salemnews.com.