Ginger Gourmet Restaurant Planning to Open in North Reading

There may be an Asian restaurant, Ginger Gourmet, opening at 265 Main St. The restaurant's management requested a liquor license at the Board of Selectmen meeting Monday night. The public hearing was opened, and will be continued on Sept. 17 at the board's next meeting.

According to Manager Mark Zeng, the restaurant is going to be a first class, fine dining Asain restaurant with Chinese and Japanese food.

The restaurant does have a lease signed for the space next to the old Sears location on Main Street, Zeng said. However, they still need approval from several other boards and committees in town including the Board of Health and Community Planning Commision before they are able to get their liquor license, according to Selectmen Chairman Sean Delaney.

The board is not against the restaurant having a liquor license, Delaney said, the timing is not right.

Selectman Steve O'Leary did not want to deny the license as he believes that the plaza needs "some life," however, he agreed that they needed to have approval from other boards before the liquor license would be granted. He stressed getting plans and approval for the septic system that the restaurant plans to install before returning to the board's next meeting in September.

The rest of the board agreed that issuing the liquor license now would be premature. The public hearing will be continued on Sept. 17 at the board's next meeting.