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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Patch Facts

Five Things to Know on Jan. 8: Gallon of Gas for $3.39

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

Today is Tuesday, Jan. 8. Here are five things you need to know in Hamilton and Wenham: 1. Cold Start: Tuesday morning is expected to be the coldest morning of the week, followed by a sunny day with temperatures getting into the 40s. 2. Gas: The least expensive gallon of regular gas in Hamilton and Wenham on Monday was $3.39 at G & M Motors. A gallon was selling for $3.47 at Oliver Gulf and Hamilton Convenience and $3.59 at Fallon’s Auto. 3. Principal: The process to select a new, permanent principal at Hamilton-Wenham Regional High School continues this week, with interview expected to begin with the 10 semi-finalists. 4. Mystery: Hamilton-Wenham Library’s Mystery Mayhem Reading Group meets on Tuesday morning as a drop-in group where you …

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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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Patch Facts

Five Things to Know on Nov. 13: Back to School

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

Today is Tuesday, Nov. 13. Here are five things you need to know in Hamilton and Wenham: 1. Falling: The temperature will drop over the course of the day on Tuesday, from high temperatures into the 60s on Monday and lows only getting into the 50s overnight, the temperature will get down into the 40s by dinnertime on Tuesday. The sky will be cloudy with the chance of showers. 2. Wenham Leaves: Collection of loose leaves along the roadside and curbside in Wenham continues on Tuesday in the Lord’s Hill neighborhood off Topsfield Road (Route 97). We will post updates on the collection schedule as we get them. 3. Bullying: Dr. Elizabeth Englander is an expert on the topic of bullying behavior in children and teenagers and she is coming to the …

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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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