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Somerville police reported the department responded to 62 calls at the Brazilian restaurant, 48 late at night, the majority of which were noise complaints.
A Brazilian restaurant in Somerville will cut back its hours after police responded to more than 60 calls to 911 there this year, including noise complaints, fights, and a shooting.
The Somerville Licensing Commission first discussed Gauchao Brazilian Cuisine, at 102 Broadway in East Somerville, on July 15. Somerville police Lieutenant Diogo de Oliveira reported the department responded to 62 calls, 48 late at night, the majority of which were noise complaints.
During one incident, he said, an officer was across the street when he saw a fight starting. Shots were fired at the establishment on April 27, according to de Oliveira, but the commission was unable to discuss the incident as the investigation was ongoing.
For reference, de Oliveira said, other Somerville bars received one to four 911 calls for service during the same time period.
“Clearly it’s becoming an issue there,” de Oliveira told the commission, noting that the calls are only on weekends, and officers sometimes had to return for a second call. The weekend before the meeting, officers responded to the restaurant three times, he said.
Gauchao’s closing time changes from 2 a.m. to 1 a.m., other licenses held in abeyance
The restaurant will no longer be able to operate until 2 a.m., the commission ruled during a show-case hearing last week. The commissioners pushed its closing time to 1 a.m.
Gaucho switched ownership last year, and when applying for the 2 a.m. license, the commissioners granted it, citing no complaints under the previous owner.
“It’s not a right of your license, it’s a privilege that we granted to you back in October with no track records,” Commission Chair Joseph Lynch said, referring to the 2 a.m. closing time.
If there are any incidents through October, Lynch and the other commissioners ruled, the restaurant’s entertainment license could be similarly revoked. The commission could also enforce an 11 p.m. closing time if there is not a reduction in 911 calls.
At the show-case hearing, Michael Herrera, who is the owner’s son and partly manages the restaurant, and the manager on record, Rony Figueroa, represented Gauchao. Herrera is “green and fresh going into the business,” said Figueroa, who said he himself has decades of experience in the Massachusetts hospitality industry.
“It’s been difficult right now in business. It’s not an excuse, it’s an explanation of the fact that business is very difficult,” Figueroa said, who said he takes full responsibility.
Herrera said to get the noise under control, he removed a speaker and was working on insulating the building.
“Let’s do better,” Lynch told the two men. “We want you to succeed. We want you to stay in Somerville, so let’s do better.”
When the restaurant was contacted Monday evening, a manager was not available to take the call.
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