A new taco shop inside Emerson College asked for a 2 a.m. closing time. The city said no, and students aren’t happy.
Neighbors pushed back on a late-night closing, saying the new restaurant's hours would draw crime to the area.
If you were hoping to grab a late-night bite at the new El Jefe’s Taqueria on Boylston Street — which is located inside an Emerson College building — think again.
On Thursday, the City of Boston vetoed the owner’s wish to stay open till 2 a.m., saying the restaurant would have to close shop by midnight due to opposition from neighbors who said they thought it would attract crime.
The Boston Licensing Board could rule today whether to let an upcoming taqueria at Emerson stay open until 2 a.m. – the neighborhood association says it would draw crime. @wbznewsradio pic.twitter.com/tRKKM0MayU
— Madison Rogers (@madisonwbz) February 27, 2020
But in eight months, the city said El Jefe’s can reapply to extend their hours.
“I am disappointed that it is not three months or six months, but we will accept it and move forward, being supportive of the neighborhood and community,” El Jefe’s owner John Schall told The Boston Globe.
Schall’s other location at 83 Mt. Auburn St. in Cambridge is known for being open until 4 a.m., and locals have begun to express their disappointment that this taco spot won’t be able to keep up that tradition.
What is wrong with late night tacos? .@marty_walsh @JanetWuNews @wutrain @EmColonial @EmersonCollege @LeePelton @WBostonHotel @MoxyHotels
— Adam Castiglioni (@ConciergeBoston) February 26, 2020
Adam Castiglioni tagged Mayor Walsh on Twitter, saying, “What is wrong with late night tacos?”
Meanwhile, Courtney Porcella called out the “not in my backyard” attitude, tweeting, “The worst type of NIMBYism — anti late-night tacos.”
The worst type of NIMBYism – anti late-night tacos
— Courtney Porcella (@cporcella) February 26, 2020
One man said this kind of news is one of many reasons why he no longer lives in the city.
https://twitter.com/ASpankoNews/status/1232676369152303105
“Only in Boston can a neighborhood association named after a neighborhood that doesn’t exist strong-arm a college into opposing a taco place that wants to stay open until 2 a.m. in a major student/tourist area,” he wrote. “Exhibit 4,320 why I left.”
And Trish Fontanilla, an Emerson College alumni, reflected on her time at Emerson when the El Jefe’s was a Dunkin’.
Cookies are okay but not tacos?🤔Also, as an Emerson alum that used to live in that building when Jefe’s space was a Dunks, the user experience is this: door from the dorm goes directly into the restaurant. Rarely used the street entrance. Youngins will not be loitering outside.
— trishofthetrade everywhere (@trishofthetrade) February 26, 2020
“As an Emerson alum that used to live in that building when Jefe’s space was a Dunks, the user experience is this: door from the dorm goes directly into the restaurant,” she wrote. “Rarely used the street entrance. Youngins will not be loitering outside.”
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