206 Derby Street Philip Laffy 10.5 Herbert Street #31 Public CommentCaution: This email originated from outside our system. Please do not click links or open
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Outlook
December 17th Meeting - 206 Derby Street - Opposed
From Phil Laffy <philaffy@gmail.com>
Date Tue 12/16/2025 7:27 PM
To Hannah Osthoff <HOsthoff@salem.com>; Nina Vyedin <nVyedin@salem.com>; pHabib@salem.com
<pHabib@salem.com>; cMcGaha@salem.com <cMcGaha@salem.com>; Ellen Simpson
<eSimpson@salem.com>; Stephen Larrick <sLarrick@salem.com>
Cc Brennan Postich <bpostich@salem.com>
Hello Board Members,
I am writing to you this evening to express my opposition to the Petition of JON NGUYEN as it relates
to a Variance per Section 5.1.8 Required Parking Spaces and a Special Permit per Section 3.3.2
Nonconforming Uses of the Salem Zoning Ordinance to convert a nonconforming real estate office
use to a nonconforming restaurant use with zero (0) parking spaces where eighteen (18) parking
spaces are required.
I own a property at 10 1/2 Herbert Street and was sent a notice of this petition via US Mail. I oppose
this petition based on several factors:
There will be no parking for their patrons and employees. While I understand the argument the
Petitioner is making regarding a "hardship" based on the age and character of the building and
its proximity to the parking garage, and there are other establishments that have been given
waivers in the past, I disagree that this won't present a harm to the public good and that it
doesn't adversely affect the nature and intent of the ordinance because:
First, the parking situation on Derby Street is dire. Finding open parking is not a simple matter,
especially at the busiest of times, but even during slower times.
Second, I assert that this type of situation is exactly why the ordinance was passed...to limit
overcrowding and limiting parking for other purposes. There is a big difference between a Real
Estate office with no parking spaces and a restaurant with no parking spaces. Here are some of
the differences:
Real Estate offices do not have as many employees in the office as this restaurant would -
Realtors are typically in the field meeting with clients.
Restaurant patrons spend a lot more time on premise than a patron of a Real Estate office.
I have bought and sold Real Estate and never, not once, stepped foot in a Real Estate
office, all of the work is done in the field. Restaurant patrons, by the nature of the
business, spend time in the restaurant, eating. This means the patron will be taking up the
few parking spaces that are now potentially available.
I am concerned about the food waste caused by the restaurant and the possible risk to public
health. I am familiar with another property owned, in part, by the same person who is the
managing partner of the LLC that owns this building. I have noticed trash issues at that other
property (197 Fort Avenue) and have reported these problems to the City. The problems do arise
and it isn't until a complaint is made with the City that it gets cleaned up.
The petitioner, in his Statement of Grounds, talks about hardships not just to the petitioner, but
to the Landlord. I would like to focus a little about why the City should have pause before giving
any latitude to this Landlord:
The property was purchased with the knowledge of these restrictions
The property was purchased in May of 2025 by Goldie Wilson LLC, which is the current
owner
Goldie Wilson LLC has one manager listed on the Secretary of the Commonwealth's
website. His name is Julius Sokol
Mr. Sokol signed, under the pains and penalties of perjury, and filed an application
from M&M Restaurant LLC (of which Mr. Sokol is a partner with two other
individuals) with the Salem Licensing Board for a Seasonal All Alcohol license on or
about January of 2024.
This application contained serious misrepresentations and omissions.
The Licensing Board admonished the applicant to correct these errors and an
updated application was filed.
Even after the Board's admonition, the applicant still failed to be completely
forthright with their application.
The applicant then cancelled their application.
Mr. Sokol, with another partner, owns and operates a restaurant through another LLC at
179 Fort Avenue in Salem.
This restaurant is called "Super Taco"
Super Taco has been in business for several years
As best as I can gather, this restaurant was originally "owned" under the "The Little
Store, LLC" with a date of organization of 04/25/2018. That LLC was Involuntarily
Dissolved by Court Order or by the SOC on 12/30/2022. My guess is that the SOC
dissolved it because of lack of annual filings
In Salem, you are required to maintain a business license from the City Clerk, unless
you do business under the name of the LLC. According to the City Clerk (when I
contacted the clerk about 6 months ago), there is no such license.
I could go on, but it is clear to me, based on his past business practices in the City (and
elsewhere), there is no need to be concerned with Mr. Sokol's "hardships." In my opinion,
he should be a better corporate citizen and play by the rules before asking for relief from
the City through his prospective tenant(s).
Based on these concerns I ask the Board to deny this petition with prejudice.
Respectfully,
Philip Laffy
Managing Partner
Jetty Light LLC
Owner of 101/2 Herbert Street #31