Melrose's Sante Fe Burrito Looking To Bring Full Bar, Ice Cream

MELROSE, MA — With two other Mexican restaurants within a couple Main Street blocks, an incoming competitor is looking for a way to stand out.

Santa Fe Burrito wants to have a full bar and ice cream takeout window when it opens in the old Papa Gino's spot, a restaurant representative told the Protection and License Committee on Monday night.

Carlos Echavarria said the restaurant will be a "place for the whole community." The fast-casual restaurant — Echavarria likened it to a Chipotle or Subway — hopes to be open no later than June 1, he said.

Unlike Chipotle or Subway, customers would be able to belly up to the bar, where there would be a bartender and servers. There would be just fewer than 90 seats in the restaurant.

The committee gave Santa Fe a thumbs up in its quest for a common victualler license, although Councilor Robb Stewart voted against it, expressing concern with a full bar potentially being open until 11 or 12 at night in downtown Melrose.

"I don't think this contributes to what we want to try to achieve as a downtown," Stewart said.

Echavarria said the business does not want to be a "nightclub."

The Liquor Commission will determine the parameters of the restaurant's liquor license.

Mike Carraggi can be reached at mike.carraggi@patch.com. Follow him on Twitter @PatchCarraggi. Subscribe to Melrose Patch for free local news and alerts and like us on Facebook.