By DONNA KENNY KIRWAN

PAWTUCKET — Continued trouble at the Tabu Restaurant and Lounge at 17 Exchange St. has prompted a 20-day suspension from the City Council’s Board of License Commissioners at its recent meeting.

At an April 9 hearing, the board ordered the suspension after hearing testimony about there being individuals in the club after closing time on March 30. According to the city clerk, this incident took place just two days after a previous two-day suspension of the club’s operations had been lifted for several earlier liquor law violations.
In accepting a no contest plea from the owners, Tropical Vibes Corporation, the board also ordered the payment of a $250 fine.
At Wednesday’s hearing, councilors expressed frustration at the repeated violations at Tabu, which they blamed on the frequent absence of Marcus Smith, a majority shareholder of the club who is also the license holder.
Citing it as a nuisance, Councilor John Barry, in particular, stated that he would like to see the club shut down.
According to the city clerk, Smith is is the process of selling out his interests in the club to four minority shareholders, listed in legal documents as Maria Alzate of Central Falls, Jorge Bustamonte of Pawtucket, Heider Colonia of Central Falls and George Alzate of Pawtucket.
A separate hearing on the class B (victualer) license for Tabu that would allow for the transfer of 75 percent of the stockholders was continued until the board’s first meeting in May.
In other matters, the board ordered a four-day suspension of One Stop Liquors at 390 Smithfield Ave., for a violation of selling alcohol to an underaged person.
After a formal hearing, the owners, Smithfield Avenue Liquor Store, pleaded no contest and was ordered to pay a $750 fine.
The board also agreed to a no contest plea and $250 fine for The Liquor Shoppe Inc., at 155 Broad St., for violations of state and local liquor laws on Feb. 29.