Town's Second Liquor Store to Open

Barrington’s second liquor store opens its doors on Tuesday morning.

Grapes & Grains will open at 10 am at 24 Bosworth St. It is located just south of the Barrington Shopping Plaza.

“Looking back on the whole process," said founder Matthew Amaral, "it is surreal that the final chapter is coming to a close. I am thinking about writing a book about my experience.”

Amaral’s experience started in August, 2009, he said, when he started thinking about getting a referendum on the ballot to allow “package stores” in Barrington for the first time ever.. The referendum was approved by voters at the 2010 general election to end Barrington's reign as a "dry" town.

Amaral actually received the first of two liquor store licenses granted by the Barrington Town Council last fall. The second went to Giovanni Cicione, who opened Brickyard Wine & Spirits on the corner of County Road and Waseca just before New Year’s Day last year.

Amaral said he never planned to rush to get his store open first.

“I wanted to take my time and design a liquor store that I believes fits very well in the town of Barrington," he said.

Peter Andrews, a Johnson & Wales University graduate, is the general manager of Grapes & Grains.

“He has worked long days this past week to receive and build our inventory database with over 10,000 bottles,” said Amaral. “He is very organized and systematic.”

“The showroom looks great with all the shiny bottles thanks to the Johnson & Wales hires who have worked incredibly well together this past week stocking our shelves,” said Amaral. “It makes me happy that I created jobs for graduating students in their field of study and at the same time keeping these graduates in Rhode Island.”

“Every time I walk into the showroom, I get a really good feeling about the time it has taken to launch Grapes & Grains,” he said. “I hope our patrons receive the same feeling.”

Amaral said the inventory is hand-selected -- not mechanical.

“We are focused on building an inventory and selection you will not find in any existing East Bay liquor stores,” he said.

Amaral also has hired a marketing coordinator. Brenden Darby, a Johnson & Wales graduate, will focus on promoting the G&G brand, he said.

The Grapes & Grains employees will complete a required BAY Team training and a team training program on Monday, Amaral said. Then the doors will open for business for the first time on Tuesday morning.