By Beth David, Editor
At its meeting on 3/1/22, the Acushnet Selectboard approved a Wine & Malt License for New England Farms, a new convenience store being built 156 & 158 Main Street and Wing Road.
A representative for the company said NE Farms is a small convenience store chain with a store in New Bedford. They began in 1998, and started selling beer and win in 2009. He said the wine and beer sales are part of the business model.
The concept is one-stop shopping, he said. Customers can get gas for the vehicles, pick up some groceries, including prepared meals to go.
They want to be able to offer customers the ability to “grab a six-pack or bottle of wine,” he said.
Alcohol accounts for about 10% of sales.
He also told the board that the company employes state of the art technology. Everyone buying wine or beer has to have their ID checked. The ID scanner is built in, and the system will not allow restricted items to be wold without an ID check.
“It’s really a great system,” he said., that has worked successfully in the past.
They can lock up the coolers on off hours and the point of sale system will also lock out those items. He said in 12 years the company has had no violations of alcohol sales locally or on the state level.
Selectboard member Kevin Gaspar asked about the store’s proximity to the church.
The representative said that the law allows the store. If the church opposes it, then the board can decide if it is detrimental.
Selectboard member David Wojnar recused himself from the discussion and left the room, saying he works in the industry.
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