Umi Steakhouse re-opens, Swansea Board pressures Swansea Mall

Last weeks Swansea Board of Selectmen meeting brought some pleasant surprises and some stern talk.

A local favorite, Umi’s Japanese Steak House, has re-opened their G.A.R. Highway location after a closure of about a week. Owner Wing Tai came in front of the Board to have the establishment’s liquor and entertainment licenses renewed. Umi’s decided to stay open to keep their licenses. The one major difference will be their hours of operation. The restaurant will be closed on Mondays and open Tuesday 4:00-10:00pm, Wednesday to Saturday 12:00-10:00pm, and Sunday 1:00-9:00pm.

Many were sad to see the announcement of Tickle’s on G.A.R. Highway closing its doors. Lynn and John Tickle expressed to the Board that the Tickle’s store will be open in January and after the doors are closed, the building is expected to be turned into an event space and casual style restaurant.

One of, if not the biggest, complaints among residents is the Swansea Mall and its roads. The entrance on Cousineau Drive and the entrance coming from the former Toys R Us are in desperate need of work and the Board of Selectmen have had enough. Device and ride license renewals came up in front of the Board leading to General Manager Arthur Petropoulos speaking in an attempt to persuade the Board. The Selectmen wanted a plan in place to have the roadways repaired before renewing the licenses. Petropoulos stated that it was on the list of projects to complete, but with the dire situation of the mall, it had become difficult. Petropoulos stated he has been begging tenants to stay. Derek Heim, Steven Kitchin, and Christopher Carreiro all expressed their displeasure in various forms. The group feels that ownership is not at all interested in making the commitment to make the mall work. Due to the road being a safety hazard and many complaints from residents, the Selectmen unanimously approved only 90 day provisional licenses pending a plan by the owners, in conjunction with Walmart, to fix the roadway.