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The owner of a new ByWard Market hair salon and café has vowed not to convert the business into a bar or nightclub if he’s granted a liquor licence.

Aydin Kharaghani told a licence appeal tribunal Wednesday that he has invested all of his savings in the business, Headquarters, and needs the liquor licence to make it financially viable.

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“I have no intention of pulling it over on anybody,” Kharaghani said.

Earlier this week, the tribunal heard from ByWard Market residents concerned that Headquarters would transform into a bar or nightclub once Kharaghani had secured the 266-seat liquor licence for which he has applied.

They complained that the mixed-use neighbourhood was becoming a noisy, dangerous “drunk tank” and couldn’t bear any more bars.

The tribunal has heard that 10 businesses in the ByWard Market are now under investigation by the city for transforming into bars or nightclubs in violation of a bylaw designed to stop the proliferation of drinking establishments in the area.