Incoming J.P. Licks to Stay Open Until Midnight

Wellesley residents will soon be able to go out for ice cream late into summer nights.

The Board of Selectmen last night granted a common victualler’s license for the incoming J.P. Licks ice cream shop which enables the store to stay open until midnight between April 1 and Aug. 31. The shop will close at 11 p.m. between Sept. 1 and March 31. 

Kimberly Diaz, director of operations for J.P. Licks, told the board the extra hour of business generates an between $20,000 and $28,000 for the summer season in the ice cream chain’s Newton Center location, and about $40,000 in its Harvard Square location.

“We have a tendency to pick up after people go out to dinner,” Diaz said. “That’s why we actually try to stay open a little later.”

Wellesley’s J.P. Licks, which will be located at 63 Central St. at the old location, will be the only commercial entity open until midnight in the area.

There was little contention among members of the board. Selectman Owen Dugan raised a point about the shop’s lack of seating outdoors thus mitigating any late night noise issues that may arise.

The board also discussed the employee-parking situation. Employees of the J.P. Licks will not be allowed to park on the street, and instead have to park in the nearby Tailby public lot.