SAUGUS — Owners of a Main Street store want to sell beer and wine, but the idea is hard for the town to swallow.
Owners of Great Convenience petitioned the Board of Selectmen for a beer and wine license in December 2016 but were denied. They’ll return Sept. 4 to try again.
“There is a desire and a need for people who come to a convenience store — this is one of the products they are looking for,” said Attorney Alfred Paul Farese Jr., who represents Kirit Patel, the store’s owner.
Saugus has six beer and wine licenses and four of them are available, said Wendy Reed, clerk for the Board of Selectmen. There are eight other package stores within a 2.2-mile radius.
But Great Convenience shares a plaza with Peas in a Pod Nursery School and, while its not against state law, selectmen worry about the sale of beer and wine so close to a daycare.
“It is still a place where children congregate,” said Chairwoman Debra Panetta. “So that was one of our biggest issues (in 2016) regardless of whether it falls under Massachusetts General Law or not.”
Erin Bradley, owner of Peas in a Pod, said she would worry more if the store sold liquor, but raised concerns with the children walking through the parking lot to get to the playground.
“People drink during the day,” said Bradley. “They’re going to go to the liquor store. They’re going to go get more alcohol, and they’re going to go around the building and who knows what’s going to happen to those little kids.”
The concept of selling beer and wine so close to children is not unique to the Main Street property.
Anthony Cogliano pointed out that his store, Joe’s Beer and Wine in Cogliano Plaza on Lincoln Avenue, is beside a dance studio used by children.
“It’s a very similar situation to what we have at our property,” said Cogliano. “We have kids in our building. They (Great Convenience) have to be responsible enough to do the right thing and sell alcohol to people who are over 21 years old. I can’t see that that would be an issue with kids at a nursery school.”
Joe’s Beer and Wine is located in Cogliano Plaza on Lincoln Avenue beside Beat ConnXtionz Dance Company. The dance school lists several programs on its website, including a class for 2- and 3-year-old children.
Selectmen said last week that they would consider the request at a Sept. 4 meeting. They asked Farese to return with a floor plan that reflects the convenience side of the business being separate from the beer and wine side and documents that reflect the store’s hours.
