Community
Two years later and Fall River business still not granted permit down the South End
Back in 2022, Fall River Reporter shared the story about Somerset resident Manuel DaSilva and the Cape Verdean restaurant he was getting ready to open. Two years and over a million dollars later, the doors are still closed.
We visited with Manuel DaSilva last week at the Corner Stone Lounge located at 222-226 East Main Street where he expressed his frustration at a years long process that still has no resolution. DaSilva still has not been granted a permit by the city to operate.
The exterior of the establishment is plain and unassuming but inside, renovations show off how much time and quite frankly, money, DaSilva has poured into the space.
Completely redone, the space has a beautiful new bar area and boasts a mural of the city that DaSilva said costs him almost $10,000. The brand new kitchen sits unused and DaSilva said if he could, he could be ready to open the doors tomorrow.
But according to DaSilva, the Fall River Building Department has still not issued him a permit. DaSilva claims that building inspector Glen Hathaway has not issued the permit due to a lack of on-site parking, but DaSilva pushed back saying other restaurants like Barca do not have parking on-site. Despite what DaSilva says is ample street parking, he has secured a lease with the owner of an empty lot directly across the street with an additional 24 parking spaces, but Hathaway still has not issued the permit.
DaSilva, who owns another restaurant in Brockton, said that he has spent over $1 million dollars on the property between the purchase of the building, restaurant renovations and the multiple apartments that are above the restaurant. Those apartments, according to DaSilva, are the only thing saving him from major financial issues.
“I have all my apartments filled with really good tenants. Thank God.”
Other businesses have previously operated out of the same location, including Casablancas and Gold Mind, neither of which were required to have on-site parking.
Fall River Reporter reached out to city Building Inspector Glen Hathaway but did not get a response.
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Fed Up
April 1, 2024 at 10:24 am
This state isn’t friendly to small businesses and typical Massachusetts red-tape he has no recourse.
Trump loves the poorly educated suckers.....
April 1, 2024 at 2:02 pm
What’s this have to do with the state?????
RedPilled
April 1, 2024 at 12:21 pm
Based on this story this restaurant should be up and running. There’s definitely more to this story.
O.Spencer
April 5, 2024 at 9:32 am
Reply from City hall:
Thank you for your email to Mayor Coogan. This matter is being addressed according to the stipulation outlined by Licensing Board in their decision to grant the liquor license. The renovations to this building were just completed a few months ago and once the parking issue has been resolved they will be opening.
Gary Dunn
April 1, 2024 at 7:45 pm
I already know what it is they don’t want to say it but I guarantee you it’s the neighborhood shame on everybody if he has the proper security like anywhere else he should be able to open it up but I guarantee you it has something to do with that neighborhood I rest my case
Barrack Warren
April 1, 2024 at 7:49 pm
Two years later and Fall River business still not granted permit down the South End
Wow, just wow.
Uncle Junior
April 3, 2024 at 7:02 am
Call Tony Soprano
Make Fall River great again
April 4, 2024 at 7:19 am
Small businesses would probably actually be able to compete with chains if it wasn’t for so much bullshit regulations and red tape. Fall Tiver would probably have a lot less empty store fronts if it wasn’t for this bullshit
O.Spencer
April 5, 2024 at 9:04 am
I wrote a letter to the mayor’s along with a copy of this page, hopefully someone will look into this, cause that idiot inspector has a hair up his ass. I’ve been an inspector before and nothing like this takes over 2 years to be granted.