New tavern owner: Please, just give me a chance

SHARON - Down the road from Sharon Hospital, on Sharon Valley Road, a small red tavern is creating a big noise in the town of Sharon.

The concern stems from the history of the tavern and the name that is on the license application: Jessica Kain, daughter of Joseph Kain, who owns the tavern and is currently serving a jail sentence for the sale of illegal substances.

Jessica Kain has just applied for new tavern license, which would allow her to serve beer and wine only.

Some Sharon residents are circulating a petition asking the Department of Consumer Protection to deny Kain's request.

The petition contends that past instances of illegal drug sales, alleged excess alcohol distribution and the unsolved murder of Floyd Ellis, who was last seen alive while at the tavern, should be enough to deny Kains effort to reactivate the tavern permit.

First Selectman Malcolm Brown has endorsed the petition and has written a letter, at the behest of a citizen group, relaying these concerns to the Department of Consumer Protection.

In addition, state Sen. Andrew Roraback (R-30) has also written the Department of Consumer Protection asking that the Liquor Division strongly consider the opinions of "those most knowledgeable about this situation and to deny the application.

Kain feels that the red flags raised by her surname are unjust.

"I want the community to know that I just want a chance," said Kain, who said she is a junior at Marist College in Poughkeepsie, N.Y., majoring in business administration. "It's unfair that the community is trying to tell me that I can't do this just because they feel that I am guilty by association. I have never been in trouble and I never did anything wrong."

Kain's family has owned the tavern since the end of Prohibition when her grandmother converted it from a mining office to a tavern.

A letter to the editors of The Lakeville Journal last week by Sharon resident Jefferson Martin called the "present management of the Sharon Valley Tavern a blight on the community."

Kain has read the letter and has taken umbrage with what she calls the assumptions made by Martin, whom she said she has never met.

"My father is in jail, that is a fact but does that mean I can't have a chance as an entrepreneur? Somehow that just doesn't seem fair, I am trying to breathe new life into the tavern."

The letter also calls for concerned citizens to sign the petition which, according to Martin, must be delivered to the Liquor Control Division by Feb. 15.

According to John Suchy, director of the state agency, the reason that the petition must be delivered by that date is so that a remonstrance hearing can be triggered.

"The process available to formally object to the issuance of a new license or the renewal of an existing one is the remonstrance process," Suchy explained.

"It is a process by which 10 residents of the town in question who are 18 years or older can formally object in writing to the suitability of an applicant or to the location where the license would be used. For a remonstrance hearing to be called regarding the Sharon Valley Tavern, we would need the paperwork on file with the department before Feb. 19," Suchy continued.

"As of now there is no remonstrance on file for the Sharon Valley Tavern."

Suchy explained that the application is still subject to review by the Liquor Division and that a hearing could be scheduled based upon what is found during the review of the application.

"The department will investigate the application. At this point, I can't say what action will be taken as the matter is still under review."

Kain has prepared herself for the possibility of a hearing.

"I have the strength to go there and to keep trying to get this place re-opened," said the new owner, who is currently taking a break from her studies to help her family.

"My father ran it for over 30 years and prior to that my grandmother did; now it's my turn."

When asked about her plans for the tavern if the license is re-activated Kain offered a smile.

"Not if but when," she said. "When I do get the tavern license I will be reopening. In the meantime, I will be cleaning and doing minor remodeling. For right now, I just want to work on restoring it and making it nice.

"Maybe 10 or 15 years down the road I could lease the business once it's up and running," Kain said. "I'm going to keep working at it; this place is just too cute to lose."