Council To Decide Coffee Shop's Liquor License Tonight

A Portsmouth coffee shop will learn tonight if the owners can add alcoholic coffee beverages to its menu. 

The owners of , which celebrated its 10th business anniversary earlier this year, want to serve alcohol at its Portsmouth shop. The store's owners are seeking to secure a liquor license for the King Charles Drive and West Main Road location. 

The coffee shop's owners will appear at a hearing tonight before the Portsmouth Town Council. Serving as the Board of License Commissioners, the council will approve or deny Custom House's request for a liquor license. 

The council meeting is set to begin at 7 p.m. at Town Hall. 

Despite the local license, if granted, the  across the street might prevent establishing a liquor license at this shop. State law prohibits any establishment to serve liquor within 200 feet of a church. 

The coffee shop's owners have petitioned and met with state legislators about this law. 

Custom House Coffee currently operates shops in Middletown and Portsmouth, with a third shop to open this summer in Fall River, MA. The  since last year.