Convenience Store Sells First Beer, Wine

Richdale in Wenham received its beer and wine package store license this week and began sales on Friday.

Richdale in Wenham has now sold its first bottle of wine and six-pack of beer. The store has spent longer than a year working through the process to get a package store license and is the first convenience store in the town's history to sell beer and wine. On Friday, owner Albert Abdelmalak was putting the final touches on the wine display and had a cooler fully stocked with beer in the store, at the intersection of Maple Street and Topsfield Road (Route 97). Last fall, Wenham Tea House received the town's first pouring license. The Tea House had the town's first package store license to sell bottled wine, but it became available when the management changed to Henry's Fine Foods and owner John Keohane instead sought a pouring license. The …

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Richdale's Liquor License Plan Garners Support from Some Neighbors, Concern from Others

The one big question about the application from Richdale for a liquor license is whether beer and wine sales are allowed there by zoning.

Some neighbors say the current owner of the Richdale in Wenham should be granted a liquor license because somewhere to buy beer and wine is needed in the area, while others say they are concerned about the negative impact on their property values. The Board of Selectmen last week heard the initial plans from Richdale owner Albert Abdelmalak about his application for the town's only package store license. The license had been held by Wenham Tea House, but when the management changed and Henry's Fine Foods took over, owner John Keohane said he preferred a pouring license. So the Tea House license was changed from a package store license to a pouring license, with the approval of the Legislature and signature of the governor. That made the …

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Neighbor: Richdale Does Not Need Liquor License

A neighbor of Richdale in West Wenham write in opposition to its application for a package store liquor license.

To the Editor: Richdale has again applied for a license to sell liquor. While I understand the challenges of running a small business, establishing a liquor store in a residential area along Topsfield Road would be a disaster for our neighborhood. I would have thought after the first Board of Selectman hearing in April that owner of Richdale would have seen the neighborhood opposition to the proposal and reconsidered his application by exploring other more community friendly opportunities. The decision to grant a liquor license is not about customer demand or even a specific business bottom line, but instead is about the about identifying business opportunities that is best in keeping with our community. That is why a hearing before a …

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New Liquor License for Tea House is in Sight

The liquor license being sought for the Wenham Tea House cleared a major hurdle late last week.

The finish line is now in sight in the quest for a so-called “pouring license” for the Wenham Tea House. Last Thursday, the Senate bill authorizing the liquor license was passed and it now moves to the House of Representatives, where Wenham Town Administrator Mark Andrews said he anticipates few problems. Andrews is expected to update the Wenham Board if Selectmen about the progress of the license when the board meets at 7 p.m. on Tuesday at Wenham Town Hall. Wenham held a Special Town Meeting in February to begin the process of a home rule petition for the license, which will go to Henry’s Fine Foods, which took over management of the Tea House in March. Voters unanimously approved the petition, which then started on Beacon Hill as a …

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Richdale Liquor License to Be Considered First

The Wenham Board of Selectmen said it was the board's preference for a package store liquor license to go to Grassy Roots, but on Tuesday night will hear first from Richdale, which was the first to file a complete application.

The attorney for Richdale market in Wenham said Monday he’s not sure what to expect from the Board of Selectmen when it considers a package store liquor license for the store on Tuesday night. In February, the Board of Selectmen said it favored awarding the town’s single package store license to Grassy Roots because its plans to use the license align most closely to the initial intentions of the license when approved by Town Meeting voters. Before expressing its preference, the board had asked the three businesses hoping for a license to submit an “expression of interest,” according to Town Administrator Jeff Chelgren. From there, the board determined the plan from Grassy Roots most aligned with the intention of the town’s only license, …

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Grassy Roots Gets Nod For Wenham Liquor License

Grassy Roots was told on Tuesday it is the "preferred candidate" to get Wenham's only package store license.

Grassy Roots was the Wenham Board of Selectmen’s top choice Tuesday night to move forward in the application process for the town’s only package store license. Three businesses – Grassy Roots, Nazir’s Fine Jewelry and Richdale – had all expressed interest in being granted the license. The package store liquor license became available when the Wenham Tea House chose to give it up in December. The Tea House’s new operator, Henry’s of North Beverly, plans to reopen the restaurant in April and is seeking a pouring license. Voters approved the first step at a Special Town Meeting last week, and a legislative petition moves on to the Legislature, a process that could take four to six months. In the meantime, Selectmen are charged with awarding …

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Patch Facts

Five Things You Need to Know Today: Feb. 21

An essential get-me-going daily morning column from Hamilton-Wenham Patch.

Today is Tuesday, Feb. 21. Here are five things you need to know: 1. Sun: Tuesday is forecasted to be a sunny day with temperatures that will rise well into the 40s. 2. Fat Tuesday: Tuesday is Fat Tuesday – marking the end of Mardi Gras before the start of Lent on Wednesday, a time of fasting and repentance for Christians leading up to Easter Sunday. 3. Office Hours: Hamilton-Wenham Patch Editor Bobby Gates and Advertising Manager Huntley Rainville are holding “office hours” on Tuesday morning at Dunkin Donuts in Hamilton. Readers can feel free to come by between 10 a.m. and 11 a.m. 4. Legos: A new time has been added for Thursday’s Lego-Palooza at Wenham Museum. A session at 3 p.m. has been added to the existing sessions at 1 p.m. and 2 p…

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'No Rush' In Deciding on Wenham's Only Package Store License

The Wenham Board of Selectmen will take its time in deciding which one of three businesses will get the town's only package store license.

There’s no deadline to decide, so the Wenham Board of Selectmen will take their time in deciding which business will be given the town’s sole package store license. The Wenham Tea House had held the license, but when the restaurant there closed in December the Tea House gave up the license. The Tea House is now seeking a pouring license for its yet-to-be-announced new tenant and the first step in that process will be a vote next Wednesday, Feb. 15, at a Special Town Meeting. “We have one application available,” said Town Administrator Jeff Chelgren, referring to the newly open package store license. Three businesses have expressed interest in holding the license – Grassy Roots, Nazir’s and Richdale. In the end, Selectmen have asked …

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Michelle Bailey

3:05 pm on Wednesday, February 8, 2012

Not all locations are created equal, but all locations can be made equal with intentional smart universal design. Thanks for reminding us that accessibility for all is important.   more ›

Patch Facts

Five Things You Need to Know Today: Feb. 7

An essential get-me-going daily morning column from Hamilton-Wenham Patch.

Today is Tuesday, Feb. 7. Here are five things you need to know: 1. Beautiful: Tuesday is looking to be a great day weatherwise, with mostly sunny forecasted with temperatures into the 40s. 2. Snow: A year ago at this time, we were all looking up at the roof of Hamilton-Wenham Regional High School and Miles River Middle School (and the elementray schools too) to see large snow drifts. The snow had piled up so deep there was concern about the building safety and workers cleared the snow for nearly a week before students returned to school, eventually making up the missed days during February vacation. 3. Gas: On Monday, AAA predicted that gas prices will top $4 per gallon this summer and could actually get quite a bit higher. In Hamilton …

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