Board finds violations, orders Las Amigas closure

Licensing Board · Meeting of May 21, 2026

WATERTOWN — The Watertown Licensing Board found Las Amigas restaurant committed three liquor-license violations tied to an October 12, 2024, incident and ordered a one-day closure. Sergeant Detective Mark Lewis testified the Arsenal Street restaurant served alcohol roughly two hours past its midnight closing time; one patron was hospitalized and another, identified as owner Maria Lopez's son Byron Marquez, was arrested for assault and battery on a police officer. Bar manager Karen Kell said the incident involved family members who remained after closing and that "this incident was devastating personally and professionally for the family and for the business." The board set the suspension for July 2, 2026, and required the bartender to complete new TIPS certification.

Elsewhere, the board approved a five-car rental license for Eurocraft Motorsports and one-day alcohol licenses for Hellenic Cultural Center and St. James Armenian Church events in June.

In the full story:

• The Full Story
• Why It Matters
• Key Motions & Votes
• Source
• Watertown's community access TV: Licensing Board meeting, May 21, 2026
• The complete report: 1,000 words

Source: the Licensing Board meeting of May 21, 2026, reported from the official video recording and transcript.

Checked against the record: before publication this article was automatically compared with the meeting transcript.