Tommy's Pushes For Late-Night Market

The owner of Tommy’s House of Pizza is planning to open a convenience store two doors down from his eatery.

Pending approval of his application at city hall, Mian Iftakar hopes to open Tommy’s Market by next semester.

Iftakar said students have said they need healthy food, and that that is what he aims to provide.

“Good stuff, not junk food or liquor. I want to give that to them. They are studying late at night,” he said.

Referring to a decision by city officials which effectively moved the closing time of Tommy’s Pizza from 3 to 2 a.m., Iftakar said he is concerned about the hours the story will be allowed to operate.

“It seems as though the city doesn’t want the convenience store. They are worried about the noise the students make,” Iftakar said.

Tommy’s Pizza neighbor Genevieve McMillan, who complained to city hall about late-night noise from the eatery keeping her awake, said she is happy to welcome the market—as long as the to welcome the market—as long as they are not open too late.

“They should be open as any shop. From 7 a.m. to 9 p.m.,” she said.

Like McMillan, Harvard Square Defense Fund President Ginny Nathans is willing to embrace Iftakar’s new establishment if it does not repeat the sins of its pizza joint predecessor.

“We need a good convenience store in the area as long as its a nice, clean operation,” said Nathans, adding that she had continuing reservations about late-night operating hours.

Nathans supported McMillan’s request for an earlier curfew at Iftakar’s pizza place.

Iftakar said commissioners at city hall were reluctant to give him an application for his convenience store license, but made it clear that their reluctance stems from a different issue.

Tommy’s Market would fall into an office zone—not a retail zone. Because of a specific clause in zoning regulation, new establishments in office zones must replace previous businesses by supplying similar products—or they must apply for exemption.

Prem-La, a variety store which sold everything from ethnic merchandise to lottery tickets, previously occupied the 47 Bow Street, the probable Tommy’s Market location.

Iftakar said he is confident he can also provide the cigarettes, Pepsi and Coke which were sold on the Prem-la’s premises.

Iftakar has been visiting City Hall on a weekly basis hoping to convince the licensing people of his right to open Tommy’s Market.

“They gave me an application, and I believe I will be able to open the store,” he said. “I won’t be able to sell alcohol, obviously, or milk because you need a special license, and they will probably want me to close early.

“I will try for midnight, which will probably mean we will shut at 11 o’clock,” Iftakar adds.