TELL US: Should The Triangle Store Have Gotten A Liquor License?
Earlier this month, the Chelmsford Board of Selectmen denied a license for the Groton Road store. Do you agree?
Earlier this month, the Board of Selectmen voted 4-1 to deny a beer and wine sales license to the Triangle Store and Deli on Groton Road.
In addition to the store management's lack of experience with off-premises liquor sales and concerns from Chelmsford Police Chief James Murphy, geography once again played a role, as it did during the Drum Hill Liquors/Hannaford decision earlier this year.
Although in this case the nearby license holders were a bit farther away than a football throw, several other stores within two miles such as Sam's Liquors and Nabnasset Liquors and Rapid Refill in Westford also currently hold licenses.
Today, we want to ask you for your thoughts: is this decision the same as the Hannaford decision, or does the greater distance matter? Should the stores in Westford be counted in the decision? And what if the management of the store had greater experience handling off-premises liquor sales? Would that matter?
Let us know your thoughts in the comments.
ElectNewSelectmen
7:07 am on Thursday, December 27, 2012
Yes, it will another vacant space soon. If you have ever been in the store they clearly are not doing great business now. Sam's is far enough away.
Anna Bucciarelli
8:41 am on Thursday, December 27, 2012
Why the heck not? As far as I know, all establishments selling wile/liquor are far enough away so competition would not be an issue. I don't live in that area and I don't usually frequent wine/liquor stores but I can see a need for one in that area, especially if, as ElectNewSelectmen states, the business is not doing well ... this may just save us from another vacancy.
Eileen Cushing-Craig
9:59 am on Thursday, December 27, 2012
Yes, of course they should have. I feel badly for small businesses in our town that have been good corporate citizens and are just trying to stay afloat. Who are the Board of Selectmen to deny that? It's silly.
Gail Kruglak
4:43 pm on Thursday, December 27, 2012
None of the stores mentioned are in Chelmsford and should not concern the Board of Selectmen. Let the small business owner find a way to make a profit. This board is a little over the top in protecting the current big two liquor store owners in this town. We have too many small businesses leaving town.
Anna Bucciarelli
6:18 pm on Thursday, December 27, 2012
I so agree with you Gail. It almost appears they are pushing the small guys out of town. And what's with considering Westford or Nabnasset when they should be talking about our town? I don't get how these decisions get made, they seem thoughtless to me ... there are 3 liquor stores right in my general area, including the 2 biggies, yet they have no problem with that. Makes no sense ... go figure.
John Gault
8:06 am on Friday, December 28, 2012
I do enjoy the fact that a football throw away from one store to another has become a valid reason to decide if a certain business should operate :)
I'm a fan of the selectmen, but I do wonder if what they can possibly be thinking when it comes to liquor licenses. Old Man Potter...eh, Harrington has long arms indeed.
Lenny Banakos
11:38 am on Friday, December 28, 2012
I think that the Triangle store deserves to get a Beer and Wine License. This store has been in that location for years under several owners. You can't make profits selling Lottery Tickets and Cigarettes and these small business owners are starving to stay in business. Its about time our appointed Selectman stop refusing the small business owner from making a living. However they need to be told that they must have reliable people to ID everybody under 30 Years old wether they like it or not.
Koral
1:02 pm on Friday, December 28, 2012
I'm not sure how small businesses are expected to stay afloat when the town is denying them business.