Despite Protests, Edgartown Market Approved To Sell Alcohol

Despite protestations from local package store owners, Edgartown selectmen have approved the sale of beer and wine at an upscale market that will soon occupy Post Office Square.

The Edgartown Meat & Fish Market, to be located in part of the storefront vacated by Hollywood Video, will feature meats, seafood and fresh produce, as well as a small selection of craft beers and high-end wine. A portion of the retail space will be devoted to a bagel shop and delicatessen. The store will be open year-round.

John Ready and his son Sean Ready, of Vermont, recently purchased the Edgartown storefront for $1.85 million. Sean Ready will serve as manager of the market. The pair currently operates two similar markets outside of Burlington, VT.

The Ready’s quest to sell alcohol had raised the ire of some local liquor store owners. On Monday, many of those opposed turned out to the Edgartown Board of Selectmen meeting to persuade the selectmen not to grant the Readys a package store license.

“I question whether or not the town thinks it’s adequately served with the licenses they have now, which is six,” said Gary Look, of Al’s Package Store. “This would be seven, four of which would be within a quarter-mile of each other.”

Look also questioned the market’s effect on parking and traffic in the area. It was a concern shared by Peter Look, also of Al's Package Store, who, unable to attend the meeting, wrote a letter to selectmen outlining his opposition.

“The parking lot is already full by 10 a.m.,” Gary Look said. “Deliveries typically happen between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. If the parking lot is full and then the trucks come in—one, two—then the traffic will then stop out on Vineyard Haven Road."

Benjamin Hall Jr., owner of Great Harbor Gourmet & Spirits, also wrote a letter of opposition to the selectmen.

“I want to stress: This is to complement the market that’s there,” said Sean Murphy, an attorney representing the Readys at the public hearing. “They don’t want to be a package store. They’re not looking to encroach upon other liquor stores in the town. That’s not the reason they’re coming in here.”

The selection will be similar to that at Soigne, said Murphy, referring to the Upper Main Street shop that offers wine, cheese, gourmet foods and sandwiches. “It’s not the type of place you go into to grab a six-pack of beer,” Murphy said.

Murphy brushed aside parking and traffic concerns, stating that the Martha’s Vineyard Commission had already studied the impacts and approved the project.

“The Martha’s Vineyard Commission did look at the parking lot; they looked at the overall traffic,” said Murphy. “We have a special permit to operate the market, so these concerns about the traffic seem to be sort of a red herring. The market’s going to be there. It has a special permit already.”

Toward the end of his presentation, Murphy expressed his frustration with some of the objections he has encountered during the permitting process.

“All we keep hearing about is how, with affordable housing and other issues, how young people are leaving the Island and we can’t keep them here," said Murphy. "Here we have a young man who wants to move into Edgartown and operate a business year-round to serve the community. And all we keep hearing is how bad an idea this is. . . .

“We should be encouraging competition, encouraging young people to move here to make a significant investment in our town," said Murphy.

“I mean, a month ago you couldn’t get a piece of fish on Martha’s Vineyard unless you went to Stop & Shop. All the fish markets were closed.”

Selectmen Arthur Smadbeck said he understood the concerns of the package store owners, but felt that Edgartown Meat & Fish Market might actually benefit Edgartown package stores by attracting visitors from other towns to the area.

“My biggest concern, which was answered today, was whether this was going to be year-round," said Smadbeck. “If this had been applying for a seasonal license, I would have a different feeling. I think that has a bit of a cherry-picking aspect to it.”

“All in all,” he said, “I think there’s a lot more positives that outweigh the negatives.”

The selectmen voted 2-0-1 to grant the market a year-round beer and wine license.  Selectmen Michael Donaroma, a frequent critic of the proposed market whose nursery and landscaping business partially abuts the property, abstained. Donaroma rents office space from Al’s Package Store.

The Edgartown Meat & Fish Market will be open daily, 6 a.m. to 8 p.m. The property is currently undergoing renovations.