The Swampscott Center for Performing Arts secured its entertainment license from the Select Board on Wednesday after several rounds of discussion at previous meetings.
“We have been very clear about entertainment being the foundation of our business model, and it’s vital to what we’re doing,” said owner Johnny Ray. “That said, we are empathetic to the town’s concerns over noise, crowd control and parking issues.”
Town Meeting approved an RFP allowing a lease of up to 30 months from the date of the vote, extending through June 2028. At the town-wide meeting, Town Administrator Nick Connors said the additional time would help offset utility, insurance, and debt costs, while requiring no town capital spending.
The short-term lease will run alongside ongoing redevelopment planning. Connors also provided information on the draft of the long-term RFP later in the Select Board meeting. The Advisory Committee finalized its recommendation for a mixed-use and half-parkland concept. The plan envisions two rows of buildings totaling about 25,000 square feet if built at two stories, positioned perpendicular to the road with a 40-foot opening to preserve views into the courtyard and open space. The model includes roughly 28 parking spaces.
The extended timeline also gives the town more time to negotiate with the Archdiocese of Boston over a potential purchase of the adjacent St. John’s Church parking lot.
According to Select Board discussions, the proposal includes live music in the dining room, a kitchen, Mariah’s Cafe and Grab the Bagel in the former fish market space, and an exhibit highlighting Swampscott’s history.
The common victualler license, which allows a business to prepare and serve food for on-site consumption, permits operations from 11 a.m. to 1 a.m. daily, according to Community and Economic Development Director Marzie Galazka.
The former Hawthorne-by-the-Sea restaurant operated until 10 p.m. Monday through Thursday, as well as 11 p.m. on Friday and Saturday.
The Select Board previously approved the center’s liquor license as well as victualler license. Neighbors have suggested there are already issues with other restaurants abiding by the noise ordinances and that by “offering lively entertainment late and drinking late with a big parking lot, it will bring all that noise outside.”
Resident Ruth Davidson, who lives near the Hawthorne property, spoke during Wednesday’s public comment period, voicing concerns about noise and crowd activity associated with late-night events.
“I’m really looking forward to having this multi-use space, even if it’s temporary,” Davidson said. “I’m really happy to hear that the sound implications of this will be kept within the walls…My other concern has to do with the potential of large crowds at shows late at night that have been drinking, all exiting into that parking lot all at once.”
Ray sought to ease concerns about late-night activity, telling the board the center is “not going to be a Roadhouse.”
“We want to make sure everybody realizes that we are already in conversations with nationally recognized entertainers to have ticketed events by the fall of 2026,” Johnny Ray said. “In order to attract this caliber of entertainment to the town of Swampscott, these professional organizations require the same professionalism of us. That includes providing professional sound engineers, a safe and welcoming environment, on-site security, crowd control and parking lot attendance.”
When the Swampscott Center for Performing Arts is not hosting large ticketed events, it will be open for community events that can range from birthday parties to dance recitals, fundraising events and corporate events.
The space is also set up for sound to not be directed toward the front doors, which will be closed as well.
Ray said there are currently no plans to use the deck or other outdoor areas for events.
“Swampscott Center for Performing Arts plans on being a great neighbor to all the businesses and residents of Swampscott, and our doors will always be open for comments and suggestions from the community,” Johnny Ray said.
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‘ Some details of this article were extracted from the following source swampscotttides.org ’
