Felipe’s Must Close For Two Days

After a week-long delay, the Cambridge License Commission (CLC) ruled on disciplinary action for Harvard Square restaurant Felipe’s Taqueria yesterday, slapping it with a non-consecutive, two-day suspension for multiple license violations.

This suspension will force Felipe’s to close on two days that it would not regularly be closed, so the restaurant could not serve the suspension on Christmas or New Year’s Day.

However, since Felipe’s co-owners Tom Brush and Felipe Herrera can schedule—without interference from the CLC—the non-consecutive suspension, the ruling gives Felipe’s substantial leeway.

“We would ideally choose days that would be least disruptive to business and students,” Brush said. He added that he will likely close for two days between Christmas and New Year’s Day, when the University is not in session.

The disciplinary hearing came in response to Felipe’s three license violations for allowing customers into the restaurant or selling food on the sidewalk outside the restaurant after its scheduled closing time.

Citing similar suspensions to Tommy’s House of Pizza on Mt. Auburn Street and Hi-Fi Pizza in Central Square, CLC Chairman Richard V. Scali and Cambridge Police Department Captain Henry Breen proposed and approved the suspension.

During the hearing Breen said that Brush was “very lucky” to have received only a two-day suspension.

Jeffrey Kwong ’09—the Undergraduate Council Liaison to the City of Cambridge and ardent Felipe’s supporter—said it was “the best outcome I could’ve hoped for.”

Brush and Kwong both added that it is critical that Felipe’s abide by its license to avoid further disciplinary action.

“Everyone who works at Felipe’s is aware that no one, under any circumstances, can be allowed inside after closing hours,” Brush said.

Kwong said his main priority now is to educate students of the rules of the license. He also advocated asking the Harvard University Police Department to send an officer to the restaurant at closing time to ensure that students do not bang on the windows and harass Felipe’s employees into opening after hours.

Brush reiterated how hard it is to keep students who want food out of the store. While he said there has never been a fight in the restaurant, he said “it does get physical every night,” with students trying to push their way in.

The CLC also further delayed ruling on Felipe’s pending application for extended hours for six months. The application asks that Felipe’s be allowed to operate until 4 a.m. Thursday-Saturday, rather than its current 2 a.m. weekend license.

This possibility, while still remote, is “contingent upon Felipe’s not having any more violations,” Kwong said.

CLC Executive Officer Elizabeth Y. Lint added that yesterday’s suspension will in no way influence the CLC’s decision regarding Felipe’s extended hours appeal.

Brush also added that the suspension will not deter the owners’ efforts to relocate Felipe’s. “We are still actively looking at other locations in Harvard Square,” he said.