Ninety Steps to Open a Sandwich Shop. Boston Says It Can Get That Down to 'Weeks'

A 2022 Institute for Justice report counted it: opening a basic restaurant in Boston, no liquor license, no zoning relief, took more than 90 steps, nearly two dozen forms, thousands in fees and nine city agencies. Nine. For a place that sells soup.

Tuesday at Marabou Cafe in Mattapan, Mayor Michelle Wu proposed fixes. If a restaurant changes owners, it wouldn't have to refile everything that was already approved. Restaurants would be allowed "by right" in commercial districts. Adding takeout wouldn't trigger another zoning review. Better online guidance, too. Her goal is permits in "a few weeks" instead of "a few months."

My take: this is the right target. The absurd part of Boston's system was never the liquor license lottery, it was making a business that already passed inspection prove itself again because the name on the deed changed. The same day, Wu named a new Licensing Board chair, Ava Callender Concepcion, starting Nov. 4. New boss, new rules. Convenient timing.

But WBZ reported the reforms "won't happen overnight," and some still need approvals. No date. No zoning text posted that I could find. Boston has announced streamlining before.

What we still don't know: when the Zoning Commission votes, what the actual amendment says, and whether anyone will publish how long permits take before and after.