MARBLEHEAD — Flynnies on the Avenue is now Ataraxis Tavern, thanks to an unusual arrangement that sends the liquor license to new owner Dean Santamaria-Capetanelis.
After more than a decade at both the Atlantic Avenue restaurant (in the upper downtown) and, until recently, Flynnies on the Beach, owner Jeff Flynn is retiring from the business — or so he hopes.
"Over the past two years," he told the selectmen on Wednesday, "(wife) Pam and I have been mulling over selling the place. The kids have grown up. It's time to move on and let someone else have fun."
The business may have become less fun when Flynn lost the lucrative concession at Devereux Beach in 2006 to Louise and Paul Petersiel of Swampscott, who opened Lime Rickey's. Meanwhile, making the sale to Santamaria-Capetanelis has required some financial dexterity.
Flynn is loaning Santamaria-Capetanelis the money to buy the business, including the liquor license. This eliminates any bank from the picture and avoids a situation — such as has occurred in the past — where the license can become entrapped in a bankruptcy proceeding, depriving the town of its use.
Instead, the license is pledged to Flynn. "When the loan is paid off," Santamaria-Capetanelis said, "he will release the pledge."
"If you don't (pay off the loan)?" Selectman Judy Jacobi asked.
"I would be back in the restaurant business," Flynn said.
Selectman Harry Christensen said he wouldn't agree to the transfer of the license except for this arrangement. As it was, the board voted 5-0 to allow the transfer.
Also appearing before the board was Santamaria-Capetanelis' new chef, Paul Riccardi.
"I've been in the restaurant business for 20 years," he said. Changes to the structure, he added, would be limited to "painting and cleaning."
Finally, Chairwoman Jackie Belf-Becker told Flynn, "Thank you for all the years you have been in business."
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