Future of Tony’s Street Meat remains in limbo

May 13, 2016 · 0 Comments

By Michelle Janzen

On April 25, Shelburne Town Council were unanimous when they denied Tony’s Street Meat application for a short term/intermittent business license for his hot dog cart.

Tony’s has been located at the corner of Victoria and Main Streets now for approximately a decade. When his business originally opened, it was only Tony’s Street Meat, which requires the business to apply yearly for a business license. A few years later, Tony’s Sweet Treats was opened in the storefront adjacent to where his hot dog cart was located.

Recent concerns have been raised by residents and elected officials at Council meetings, ranging from allegations of illegal dumping in the Town’s ewer system and garbage bins, as well, complaints with regard to owner Tony Finocchio’s alleged “aggressive” attitude toward those who set foot on the space he rents if you aren’t a paying customer.

One well long-standing member of the community claims she was chased off the property when she sat food she had purchased at a nearby establishment down on one of his picnic tables for just a moment.

To which Mayor Bennington stated, “If that is the way he wishes to do business, that’s not the type of business we want in our town.”

Since this decision Mr. Finocchio has been going door to door asking people to sign a petition, to which several people have told the Shelburne Free Press they signed under duress as they were scared of how he would react if they didn’t sign it based on past knowledge and experience when dealing with this individual.

Subsequently, on May 9, Mr. Finocchio had his lawyer Mr. Leonard Hochberg stand before Council requesting there be a motion made to reconsider Tony’s Street Meat license. Then, Mr. Hochberg presented the Council with the petition which he says contains 1,000 signatures of those wanting the business to remain open.

Mayor Bennington thanked Mr. Finocchio for his submissions to Council. Shelburne Council then made a resolution to forward Mr. Finocchio’s delegation submission to their lawyer for consideration.

With the next Town Meeting scheduled for May 30, it looks like it will be a long wait for Mr. Finocchio to find out the fate of Tony’s Street Meat.