BATH

Chris Johnston says his Front Street Public House will be primarily an eating establishment, to include a bar and light entertainment.

Skip Taylor and Will Nielson, who also own businesses on Front Street, are concerned about the “bar” side of the operation Johnston plans to open Dec. 17 at 102 Front St.

At Wednesday’s City Council meeting, Taylor went so far as to declare he will close down his shop once Front Street Public House opens. On Thursday, Judy Taylor confirmed that Winter’s Gone Alpaca Fashions will vacate its storefront at 104 Front St. by Jan. 14.

The public and councilors debated granting Johnston a liquor license for more than an hour Wednesday. When it came time to vote, it was unanimous.

“It’s clear-cut,” said newly elected Vice Chairwoman Mary Eosco. “There’s nothing on that application that can be denied.”

Johnston, who also owns Montsweag Roadhouse in Woolwich, told councilors he eventually will install a back door and a walkway so patrons who want to go outside and smoke will not be doing so on the city’s most visible street.

“I’m not an absentee owner,” Johnston told the council. “I would be concerned about my neighbor’s concerns, as they would be mine. I’m more restaurant-oriented than bar(-oriented).”

Councilor Andrew Winglass, who owns Mae’s Cafe & Bakery on Centre Street, responded quickly.

“That’s exactly what I was hoping to hear,” Winglass said.

Skip Taylor was anything but convinced, however.

He recalled problems with the previous establishment at that location, the Black Barnicle Pub, which lost its liquor license in a City Council vote earlier this year after Taylor and others complained of noise, swearing and other unpleasant behavior.

“You can say it’s not going to be a bar, but it’s still going to be a bar if it’s serving liquor,” Taylor said. “There will still be people cussing and urinating on my front windows late at night.

“When you have a bar, it produces drunks, and drunks don’t act in a ratio- nal manner,” he said. “Maybe you should pay a visit to Montsweag Roadhouse on Saturday night around midnight.”

Taylor said he expected the City Council would grant the liquor license. “You’ll gain a tenant in town and you’ll lose another one,” he said. “The loser is going to be the other businesses on Front Street.”

Johnston — a longtime business owner and member of Main Street Bath — was quick to point out that while Montsweag Roadhouse accommodates 400 people, the Front Street Public House will have a capacity for only 48. And the liquor license is renewable after a year, he said.

He also said that his businesses have policies in place to deal with unruly behavior: It is not tolerated.

Jane Morse of Sagadahoc Realty on Centre Street, also an abutting land owner, took a different take on the matter.

“It might be a plus if it’s under control,” said Morse, who serves on the economic restructuring committee for Main Street Bath.

Nielson, who owns Solo Bistro, said that women’s and children’s clothing shops are the strengths of Front Street, and that a business serving liquor would be disruptive.

Johnston disagrees.

“The whole liquor-license thing has been blown way out of proportion. Other businesses have liquor licenses on Front Street. I hate to see anyone who’s taken the risk to start a small business just pack up and leave,” he said as he tended bar Thursday at Montsweag Roadhouse in Woolwich.

But for the Taylors, staying on Front Street “isn’t worth the aggravation.”

They said they will re-open their business at their farm in Wiscasset, where it operated successfully for 13 years.

“We’re sad to go,” Judy Taylor said. “But it will be nice to not be cleaning up puke from the front step a couple times a week. Or wiping pee off the windows.”

Later, Winglass withdrew an amendment to require Johnston to install the back door within a year. City solicitor Roger Therriault informed the council it has no authority to attach such a condition on a business if it’s code-compliant.

lgrard@timesrecord.com