'Following His Grandfather's Footsteps'

Matthew Amaral opened Barrington’s second liquor store today surrounded by his family.

Grapes & Grains opened its doors at 24 Bosworth St. at 10 am. Amaral’s mother and father were his first customers.

Three other customers, including a woman for whom he babysat as a teenager, made purchases within the next 15 minutes.

“It’s a dream come true for him,” said Luciana Amaral, his wife. “He’s always wanted to own his own business. He’s following his grandfather’s footsteps.”

“We all set goals for our children,” said Jim Amaral, his father. “He’s stretched that goal.”

“I’m overwhelmed,” said Pauline Amaral, his mother. “It’s like having a new baby.”

She will actually get a new grandchild in about four months. Luciana is five months pregnant.

Yes, it will be quite a year for the Amaral family.

“I’m at peace,” said Amaral. “I feel comfortable. I feel confident in the future. I want to especially thank Kate Weymouth (town councilor). If it wasn’t for her motions to grant me the first liquor license, we might not be here.”

Amaral was granted Barrington’s first-ever “package store” license last fall. But he has been planning in his mind for Tuesday’s opening for about three years. That’s when he made his bid to get a referendum on the 2010 general election ballot to end Barrington’s status as a so-called “dry town.”

“I’m glad I took my time to open,” he said. “I wanted things to be just right.”

Amaral’s grandfather, Joseph Almeida, owned Joe’s Market on Brook Street in Providence for many years. That location now houses Campus Fine Wines.

“He has the entrepreneurial spirit,” said Luciana. “I couldn’t be prouder. It’s quite a beginning for him. He wants people to feel welcome.”

“He was born and raised in this town,” said Jim Amaral. “It’s great he could open here. He’s making quite a financial contribution to Barrington, and he’s hiring 8 people. That’s adding a lot of jobs.”

Tom Wallis of Wallis Seafood, who owns one of Barrington’s oldest businesses, stopped by to wish it's newest business owner, well.

“I wanted to be one of the first well-wishers,” he said, smiling as he looked around the store with its wooden wine racks, hand-made beer cooler, plush lounge chairs, nicely appointed wine-tasting room, and art on the walls.

Amaral said he has arranged with Gallery Z in Providence to hang art work on his walls for sale. The paintings and prints will be rotated quarterly.

“This is not your grandfather’s liquor store,” said Amaral’s mother.

Maybe not, but it is dedicated to him.

Amaral’s grandmother cut a ribbon in a brief dedication ceremony last Sunday in advance of the Tuesday morning opening. A black-and-white photo of Amaral's grandfather in his Providence store hangs on the wall just inside the front door.