ARLINGTON’S BOARD OF SELECTMEN GRANT TWO LIQUOR LICENSES TO LOCAL BUSINESSES AFTER FIERCE COMPETITION

In April, 2012, Arlington voters, by ballot measure, overwhelmingly voted to allow the Board of Selectmen to issue up to two new liquor licenses for liquor stores.  The measure was passed by a 59.8 percent YES vote.

June 18, 2012 at 7:30 p.m. was the scheduled time where applicants could appear before the Board of Selectmen and make their case for one of the two coveted licenses, and each applicant would be afforded approximately thirty minutes for presentation and questioning.  No less than six highly qualified applicant showed up with their liquor license lawyers in order to seek approval for one of the two licenses.  The contenders included Arlington Heights Liquors, Arlington Wine and Spirits, Foodmaster Super Markets, The Meat House, Mystic Wine Shoppe and Peter Pan Superette.

Deliberations lasted more than three hours.  Ultimately, after a long night of presentations and questioning, The Meat House of Arlington was granted the first license in a unanimous vote.  Thereafter, however, Selectmen were still divided between proposals for Foodmaster Super Markets and Mystic Wine Shoppe.

At 11p.m., the final two contenders were asked to present this case for a license one more time.  Mystic Wine Shoppe’s made the first “run-off” presentation and then Foodmaster Super Markets stepped forward and, to everyone’s surprise, withdrew its own application.  The late night unexpected turn of events allowed Mystic Wine Shoppe to gain the nod as recipient of the other new liquor store license in town that will be allowed to operate as a new Arlington liquor store.