'Birthday' Opening Seen for Liquor Store

It could be quite a birthday for Matthew Amaral.

Amaral, who was granted Barrington’s first-ever “package store” license last Monday night by the Town Council, turns another year older on March 2, 2012.

“I hope to open my store by then,” Amaral said. “That’s my goal. That’s my plan.”

Amaral will open Grapes and Grains as a full-service liquor store at 24 Bosworth St. But he plans to build an inventory with some special products that customers may not find in a bigger big box store.

“I plan to build an inventory that evolves over time,” he said. “I am passionate about the products and I am focused on bringing a unique inventory to the shop than what one would find at a package store.”

For instance, Amaral said, he enjoys Mambo wine, which he can’t seem to find in other local stores. Expect to find that label in his shop.

“I am going to build an inventory of organic, gluten free and low sulfur wines,” he added.

Customers also will be able to “mix a six-pack of craft beers,” he said.

They shop his store with products stocked “on wooden racks and with quality finishes,” he said. His build-out will begin in the next 4-6 weeks after he gets his building permits and two other tenants move to new locations.

Amaral has nothing but thanks and gratitude for his landlord-to-be, Don Perrin.

“He has held this space for me for about a year,” Amaral said.

Perrin also is helping to move the two tenants in the space Amaral is taking over to other locations. The barber shop will move to the west end of the building; the tailor is moving to another location in Barrington, he said.

Amaral plans to continue working as an insurance consultant while launching and operating the store. But he will hire a manager to run the store day-to-day.

Amaral, who was born and raised in Barrington, said: “I am really excited to open a business here. I am eager to get involved in the community at this level.”

Yes, it could be quite a birthday for Amaral in March.