Neighbors Complain About Late Night Noise At Braintree Pizza Shop

BRAINTREE, MA — Several neighbor made complaints about late night noise in the parking lot of a Braintree Square pizza shop that is open until 4 a.m.

The town's license board held a disciplinary hearing Tuesday for Crown Pizza and Grill, which is at the corner of Elm and Washington Streets. The board members voted unanimously that there wasn't enough evidence to take action against the restaurant. But Town Clerk Jim Casey did ask the owner to "work to build a more positive relationship with your neighbors."

Owner Vargas DaSilveira, of Milton, apologized for the noise, promised to take the complaints seriously and said he's already made changes such as asking his baker not to make early morning deliveries.

"I want to be a good business person," DaSilveira told the board.

The restaurant borders a residential section of Washington Street. It opened five years ago and received approval to stay open until 4 a.m. in 2016.

Kimberly Duffy, who lives on Washington Street across from the restaurant, said the restaurant is quiet before 11 p.m., but once the early morning hours come, the parking lot becomes noisy and inundated with cars.

"If this business wants to be a productive member of our neighborhood and recognize that people are sleeping between the hours of midnight and 5 a.m., so be it," Duffy said. "I don't understand how a 4 a.m. license was ever granted. This is not Times Square. This is Braintree Square."

Another neighbor, Maryellen Fleming was also worried about the noise and said other neighbors are afraid to complain about the business.

Duffy also said the restaurant was operating illegally because it's state corporation papers expired. But Casey said that is common for these types of businesses.

Casey said he checked with the state Alcoholic Beverages Control Commission, who said the expiration of records can usually be solved easily by submitting a renewal.

"Not unlike many things, they do not get notification that their 4-year license has expired," Casey said.

Casey said DaSilveira corrected the issue on Monday, and all his licenses are up to date.

As for granting the late night hours, Casey said the board allowed it because they received a petition in 2016 signed by 100 Braintree residents. He said the pizza shop serves a lot of late-night shift workers, and because it's a takeout business, Gov. Charlie Baker's order closing sit-down restaurants at 10 p.m. doesn't apply.

Casey added that since 2016, there have been 31 calls to police regarding the business. Just two of those were noise complaints, Police Chief Mark Dubois said. Both times, officers reported no cars in the parking lot upon arrival.

The vote to take no action against the business passed 4-0, with Fire Chief James O'Brien being the only board member absent from the meeting.