Northborough – Selectmen are lending their support to efforts by Wegmans supermarket to amend Massachusetts state law in order to enable the store to pour alcoholic beverages inside the cafe at its Northborough Crossings location.
Wegmans” 138,000-square-foot store in Northborough – the largest supermarket in the state – had approached the town about allowing alcohol sales or bring-your-own-bottle (BYOB) consumption inside the Market Cafe at the store.
The board did not support a BYOB option, but told Wegmans it was open to issuing a pouring license if the cafe space could be renovated to separate it and secure it from the rest of the store, said Town Administrator John Coderre.
However, state law currently prohibits communities from issuing a pouring license and a package store license for the same location.
Wegmans Vice President Bill Congdon appeared before the board Jan. 27 to ask for a letter of support for legislation that was filed by State Rep. Harold P. Naughton Jr. (D-Clinton) that would give communities the ability to issue two licenses at the same location.
Selectmen voted unanimously to write a letter of support for the bill to the Joint Committee on Consumer Protection and Professional Licensure, which was scheduled to hold a hearing on the bill Jan. 28.
“They have done every single thing they said they would do and more,” said Selectman Jeff Amberson. “They have given back to the community and been a class outfit.”
