Patrick Snow of Middletown, principal of Crave Nutrition, wanted to make one thing clear during his council hearing for a victualing license for the property at 576 Metacom Ave., formerly known as Sip Sip Hooray. His business, Crave Nutrition, has no connection to that business, or its former owner.

Sip Sip Hooray was forced to close in February after Newport and Bristol police, acting on a tip, found a 9 mm handgun, cocaine, fentanyl, pills, and other drug-related paraphernalia at the Bell Tower Plaza establishment.

Town Solicitor Mike Ursillo had initially recommended a show cause hearing to revoke the first license, but, between the meetings, former owner Justin Welch voluntarily gave up that license so there was no longer a need for the show cause hearing. Mr. Welch remains at the ACI, awaiting a bail hearing.

“Now you have someone new who wants to continue the business at that address,” said Mr. Ursillo. “His name is Patrick Snow, and he has no familial relationship with Mr. Welch.”

Mr. Snow joined the meeting, and Councilor Mary Parella asked for a little more clarification. “It seemed like it was a quick transition from the prior owner to you,” she said. “How did this come up so so quickly, from the time we had the problem with the prior owner?”

“My wife and I are business partners, and we own Slim Possible here on Aquidneck Island, as well as Crush Nutrition on Broadway in Newport,” he said. Mr. Snow went on to say that he teaches at the Naval War College and they know Bristol well, and they are friends with the landlord at Belltower Plaza.

“We were both publicly embarrassed for our parent company,” said Mr. Snow, who confirmed that, while the various nutritional shake businesses do share a corporate parent, each has its unique brand, ownership, and management, unlike a traditional franchise structure.

“The way we do business is the right way; we completely rebranded and remodeled, we created a new lease and again, we didn’t purchase the prior business. We just want to continue the same use with our own brand-new enterprise. It has no affiliation with the former.”

“We’re very excited about it, and the reason that the transition might may seem like it happened fast to you is because we didn’t want to let too much time pass and lose the client base that already existed. But also we know we need to do a lot of work to gain the community’s trust back, and we’re excited to do that.”

After minimal further discussion, and with recommendations to approve from both the Police and Fire departments, the Council granted Mr. Snow’s petition.

“Good luck, Patrick, good luck,” said Council Chairman Nathan Calouro.