NORTHBOROUGH – A Northborough business will now be able to sell beer or wine with their gift sets after the Select Board granted them a wine and malt package store license during their Aug. 14 meeting.
White Cottage, located at 290 West Main St., is a home décor and gift store. They have been in business for about 11 years and have previously been located in Westborough and Grafton.
Co-owner Cheryl Meyer said their Northborough location has been their favorite.
“The foot traffic has been wonderful here. The customer response has been wonderful,” Meyer said.
White Cottage began as a design business. However, the business has evolved and now offers jewelry, gift baskets and boxes.
Meyer said the gift baskets began during the COVID-19 pandemic. The baskets have become a large part of their business, and Meyer said customers have asked for wine to be offered in the boxes.
“I congratulate you on your successful few years in Northborough thus far, and I hope you stick with us for a long time to come,” said Chair Mitch Cohen.
Licenses
With this approval, Northborough will not have any remaining wine and malt package store licenses, sparking discussion at the meeting.
“My concern is … if you get this license — you’re going to use it in a very responsible way, you’re going to just do gift baskets — but if you leave that storefront, the next person there would have to get a transfer and they could do a full-on package store,” said Select Board member Julianne Hirsh.
Co-owner Alicia Garbarino said a future business couldn’t have a full package store because they wouldn’t have a liquor license. The license is intended to add onto a business, not be its sole purpose, she said.
Town officials said there isn’t a large demand for this type of license.
Interim Town Administrator Bob Reed said Northborough doesn’t have any allalcohol licenses available. If Northborough did have such a license available, the request would come before the Select Board.
Ultimately the board voted 4-0 to approve the license. Member Lisa Maselli abstained.
