Convenience Store Asks for Remaining Beer, Wine License

Residents on Lowell Road, Barrett's Mill and Estabrook roads will have to wait at least another two weeks to buy beer or wine at Concord Convenience on Lowell Road as the selectmen continued the public hearing on assigning the remaining retail license on Monday night.

Co-owners Elizabeth Akehurst-Moore and her father, Jim White, own the gas station and store at the corner of Lowell and Keyes roads. The tiny counter has expanded into what was Maximum Image and now sells coffee, cold drinks, canned goods and snack and deli foods. The store is managed by Nate Hollander who was not at the meeting.

Akehurst-Moore said she has had frequent questions from customers that stop for gas if she sells beer or wine. She put out a petition on the counter and in a week got more than 230 signatures, "65 percent from Concord residents," Akehurst-Moore said.

She said the beer coolers and one wine rack will be in a now-empty alcove with room for a gate to be pulled across before and after alcohol sales are allowed.

She said the Board of Health and Building Inspector have signed off on the interior plan.

But with only one license available for the selectmen to grant, the board wanted to mull it over and get a picture of the previous applicants. Selectmen's assistant Ruth Lauer said about 10 years ago, Crosby's Market applied for a beer and wine license but was turned down.

Ironically, Lauer said on the day Akehurst-Moore and White turned in their paperwork, Lauer received another application to sell the drinks.

"They have not returned with an application," said Lauer.

The remaining licenses are at restaurants. Concord Provisions sells beer and wine but that was a license transfer because it used to be a package store.

"The license would be an added bonus to people," said White, who described how he has improved the corner of Concord by adding the 1,500 square foot food shop.

"My sense is there is a need," said Akehurst-Moore. She said the nearest store to sell beer and wine is Fern's in Carlisle.

Alcohol would be sold Monday through Saturday from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. and Sundays from noon to 8 p.m. The store in open Monday through Friday from 6 a.m. to 9 p.m.; Saturday from 7 a.m. to 9 p.m. and Sunday from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m.

Selectman Greg Howes said he wanted to "evaluate the retail sales" in deciding whether granting the license would "serve the town."

Assistant Town Manager Doug Meagher said he had contacted other towns with  beer and wine sales at convenience stores and found "no problems with the quick in and out" sales.