Ironside Grill Denied Zoning for Entertainment

Ironside Grill owners had hoped to add trivia and acoustic performances to the Park Street restaurant, but the Boston Zoning Board turned down their request this week to rezone the property for entertainment.

Prior to the board's decision, it seemed the longtime establishment was on the way to winning approval. Restaurant owners presented the zoning board with a petition that had 261 signatures in favor of the rezoning effort, 14 of which were on the same street as the restaurant.

The request was also supported by the Charlestown Neighborhood Council. Tom Cunha, the council's president, said there was nothing unusual about the rezoning effort.

"I don't think it's anything outrageous," Cunha said. "I think [Ironside Grille is] trying to keep up with what the Warren Tavern [has]."

The Warren Tavern offers trivia and hosts acoustic guitar players.

Residents whose property abuts Ironside Grill did express objections to the zoning request in a hearing before the Neighborhood Council. They said that rezoning could be a "slippery slope" that would create larger changes within the community, but Cunha didn't see reason for concern.

"This is a business that's been open for 60 years and they've been responsible business owners," Cunha said, adding, "If you move into a barn, you're going to smell the animals… [Ironside Grille] has been a liquor establishment for 60 years so it's a similar situation here."

Attempts to reach Ironside Grill's owners for comment were unsuccesful. 

When asked why the rezoning proposal failed, Lisa Timberlake of the Boston Zoning Board said the proposal was declined "without prejudice." When pressed further, Timberlake said that the board would have liked for the establishment to work closer with local residents about their concerns.

Cunha said that during a forum with residents to discuss the proposed rezoning, only a handful of people showed up, and they were mostly couples from two or three homes. He also commented that although there was a petition with 261 signatures supporting the rezoning effort, there was no counter-petition circulated in the community.