All Things Alcohol

All Things Local Cooperative Market, downtown Amherst

With a room full of cops concerned about the Blarney Blowout alcohol fueled riot looking on, the Amherst Select Board -- by unanimous vote -- issued a wine and malt off premises license to the new downtown food consignment store, All Things Local.

The cooperative market opened four months ago and already has expanded, taking 50% of the space given up by Food For Thought Books who recently raised $40,000 in a Indiegogo campaign to remodel their downsized operation and guarantee life beyond their 38th year.

Select Board Chair Stephanie O'Keeffe pointed out her board has turned down the last two requests for this category of license,  Cumberland Farms on Rt 9 and the Hess Station on Rt 116, both over concerns of high-volume sales competing with long-time nearby liquor stores.   

Select Board member Jim Wald acknowledged the irony of the board handling four liquor license issues before getting to the public hearing on Blarney Blowout, but he added that it shows how carefully the town government does oversee the licensing of liquor establishments in town.