Liquor Store Must Compete For New Year-Round License

SANDWICH- With an additional year-round liquor license now up for grabs in town, the board of selectmen will have to decide which of the three applicants vying for that license will get it.
Two years ago, John J. Santoro, owner of Merchants Square Liquors filed a citizens petition article asking Town Meeting to approve an additional license in town. Mr. Santoro filed the petition in an effort to exchange his current liquor license for a new one, which would allow him to sell hard liquor, not just beer and wine, all year long. Under the terms of his current license, Mr. Santoro has to box up his bourbon, vodka, whiskey, and other hard liquor during the winter months—something, he said, that really cuts into his revenues.
When the petition article came before voters in September 2006, it passed handily, but when it came before the state Legislature for a final approval, it was rejected. Legislators wanted the town to name a specific area of town where the license would be applied.
A revised article went back before Town Meeting last January, designated the downtown area of Sandwich as the location for this additional license and defined this area as anything north of the Mid-Cape Highway. It passed again without issue, and the state was quick to give its blessing for the license.

John Santoro stands behind the counter of Merchants Square Liquors, which he owns and operates across from the Stop & Shop Plaza. Mr. Santoro is one of three store owners in town competing for a new year-round sales license. It was his petition to Town Meeting that help win the additional liquor license for Sandwich. DON PARKINSON/ENTERPRISE

But as it turned out, the battle for year-round hard liquor sales was not over for the Santoros. Just because they initiated the drive to get another license for the town, did not mean it was theirs for the taking. 
Two other businesses, Cellar 55 on Route 6A, the site of a former used bookstore, and Sandwich Mart & Spirit, also on Route 6A, have filed applications for the license. And next Thursday night, the board of selectmen will hold a public hearing with the three business owners to determine who will receive it. 
“Our intention was to make this a fair and open process,” said Assistant Town Manager Douglas A. Lapp. “And I think we’ve achieved that,” he added.
Mr. Santoro does not disagree and, even though he was the one who filed the original citizens petition article, he understands the need for such a process. “It’s the law, and I have always followed the law,” he said.
With the exception of beer and wine, for the past five years, every January 15, Mr. Santoro has had to cover up the alcohol products that fill the shelves of his store. Those products are off limits to his customers until April 1, when he can resume selling them again.  “That’s the nature of the seasonal liquor license,” he said.
But he is losing money during this 10-week hiatus and his business is suffering. “I lose about a quarter of my business and at that particular time, losing a quarter of my business hurts. I also lose retail space, and it takes time to build my customer base back up in April. It can take as much as a month,” he pointed out.
According to Kathleen Coggeshall, office manager at the Town Hall, Cellar 55, which is owned by Kristen Buzzell, is expected to open this holiday season. In addition to selling wine, Ms. Coggeshall said Ms. Buzzell is seeking this year-round permit because she would like to be able to sell cordials as well, which would require an alcohol license rather.
While Abdul Mian, the owner of the Sandwich Mart & Spirit on Route 6A, which is next to Sandwich Pizza, holds a year-round beer and wine license, he said the limited permit is not enough to keep customers from walking away from his business.
“People come in looking for beer and wine and other alcohol. When I tell them I only sell beer and wine, they go someplace else. I need this license to help build my business. I’m just surviving, right now,” he said.  
Ms. Coggeshall said there is good reason why the business owners want this one license so badly. 
“I have no more year-round alcohol permits available and no more year-round permits to sell beer and wine,” she said.
And it is not likely that the town will get another permit any time soon.  She explained that the number of permits issued to a town is based on the number of residents living there. She said the town’s population would have to jump to 30,000 to trigger another permit. And with the town nearing buildout, that probably will not happen.
The public hearing to decide the recipient of this lone all alcohol permit is scheduled for Thursday night during the selectmen’s regularly scheduled business meeting. The hearing is open to the public.