EASTHAMPTON — A new park opening next month will offer space to roam on its lush green lawn, food made with produce grown on-site, alcoholic beverages and a panoramic view of Mount Tom — all inside the walls of Mill 180.
Mill 180 Park/Community Food Engine is an indoor park, restaurant and event space set to open the first week of September. It’s one of five businesses that presented applications for one of eight newly available liquor licenses at the Licensing Board meeting Monday.
Lystra Blake, manager of Community Food Engine, offered a brief glimpse into what she believes is the first business of its kind. “It’s an interesting, rather unique space,” she said.
Behind the large glass doors on the second floor of Mill 180, visitors will be able to take a stroll on a wooden boardwalk through the open space of the park. Above, glowing lights dangle from the ceiling.
Planters full of greens and other vegetables dot the space. They’re hydroponic, a method of growing produce without soil, using only water. The produce will be used to make dishes in the on-site restaurant. “It’s primarily centered around what we can grow in the park,” Blake said.
The park will also be open for events. Organizers have already booked a student retreat and an Easthampton Community Center event, Blake said.
Community Food Engine was granted a seasonal beer and wine license in April, but Blake said she’s seeking one of the full liquor licenses now that they’re available.
Blake joined Luthier’s Co-Op, Off the Map Tattoo, Eastworks and The Library in applying Monday for one of the eight liquor licenses made available in June. The board took no action on any of those applications and will reopen public hearings for each on Sept. 12.
Gov. Charlie Baker signed legislation last month granting Easthampton the eight licenses, which are available to restaurants, bars or other establishments for the on-premises consumption of beer, wine and hard liquor. State-level approval was necessary because Easthampton had long since reached its liquor license quota, with all of the licenses available based on the city’s population granted. The request was sent to Boston by the City Council last fall.
Steve Sanderson, co-owner of Off The Map Tattoo, said a liquor license could help in his plans to expand his tattoo shop into the former Majestic Theater on Cottage Street.
Sanderson is in the process of consolidating Off The Map’s two locations on Cottage Street and in the Button building into the former theater, which he wants to renovate and turn into a “cultural epicenter” complete with artists’ gatherings, theater and musical performances.
“We’re bringing it back to a 1920s theater,” he said.
Along with tattooing, Off the Map hosts artists’ gatherings and educational summits around the world, including a recent one in a palace in Venice, Italy.
Such events, where alcohol would be served, would be separate from the tattoo shop, he said.
When Off the Map moves out of its current 112 Cottage St. home, Luthier’s Co-Op, plans to expand its floor plan and move in.
Luthier’s owner Steven Baer is applying for a liquor license so that he can offer mixed drinks at the music store/music venue. The former Off the Map space would become what he describes as a “cafe/lounge” where patrons will be able to hear the music from next door, but also grab a bite to eat or a cocktail.
The kitchen will be run by a third party. Baer said he would not yet divulge who is involved in that venture.
Down the street, Amy Florek, owner of Amy’s Place, hopes that a separate liquor license for sister establishment The Library will make good business sense.
The Library, a cocktail bar that offers a more laid-back and quiet vibe than the sports bar and restaurant next door, is connected to Amy’s Place by a door — and a shared liquor license.
Having a separate liquor license would allow Florek to run The Library as a separate business from Amy’s Place, she said. “It’s functioning perfectly the way it is — this is a business decision,” she said.
At Eastworks, owner Will Bundy is applying for a liquor license for the community event space known as The West End. The space is across from Riff’s Joint, and currently has a beer and wine license. It hosts workshops, classes, arts events and private parties. The liquor license would allow him to offer more beverage options at such events and allow him to further offset the cost of providing the space at a low cost for community groups.
Chris Lindahl can be reached at clindahl@gazettenet.com