Published October 25, 2019
MELROSE — For decades, Melrose prided itself on being a “dry” community. No liquor stores. No liquor sales.
But things change. Eventually, restaurants came into the city and proved that by being allowed to sell not just beer and wine but mixed drinks, they could thrive. And in turn they could anchor popular business districts.
Now the City Council is being asked to let the two retail establishments currently selling beer and wine to include spirits in their offerings.
This week, the council referred the request from Mayor Gail Infurna to its Appropriations Committee.
Infurna wrote, “Over the past several years, our community has seen an ongoing revitalization in our business districts which has made them thriving centers for retail, dining and recreation. In order to further this progress, I am presenting the attached Order for your consideration which seeks to allow for expanded liquor sales within our retail food establishments, while maintaining a cap on the number of licenses our Liquor Commission is authorized to issue.
“It is likely you will deliberate over this proposal for some time after my term in office is over. My purpose in sending this to you at this time is to begin a conversation over expanded liquor sales as I believe such an initiative will likely foster even more economic activity in our community.
“In summary, this Order requests passage of a Special Act – via the Commonwealth’s Home Rule procedure – to provide the Liquor Commission with the ability to issue up to 2 of the 3 existing retail food establishment licenses (Buckalew’s and Beacon Hill Wine and Gourmet) for all alcoholic beverages. As members may know, Chapter 327 of the Acts of 2008 authorized the creation of 3 retail food establishment licenses in the City of Melrose for the sale of wine and malt beverages only. These licenses have proven quite successful in spurring further economic growth in our downtown business sector. The objective in proposing this Order is to give the Liquor Commission the authority, subject to its own lawful discretion, to allow for the sale of all alcoholic beverages at 2 of the 3 retail food establishments the City is currently authorized to license.
“As you begin your deliberations, please note that I have also requested that the Liquor Commission start the process of revamping its existing regulations in order to ensure that the implementation of expanded liquor sales for retail food establishments in our community is accomplished in a reasonable and appropriate way, and reflects our historic values as a community,” Infurna concludes.