Worcester’s population growth means more package stores as city approves 5 new licenses

Five new all-alcohol package store licenses have been approved in Worcester after population growth recorded by the 2020 U.S. Census led to more licenses being created.

The city’s License Commission held a special meeting Thursday to award the five licenses. A group of six applicants, including new businesses and existing stores with only malt and wine licenses, presented their plans to the commission at the board’s previous meeting on Sept. 22.

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The existing businesses that will now be allowed to sell hard alcohol in addition to beer and wine are Jeet Investment at 504 Cambridge St. and Day Nite Store at 26 Greenwood St. New businesses receiving licenses are Gateway Wine and Spirits at 37 Mechanic St., NEC Convenience Store at 65 James St. and Wine & Market at 166 Lincoln St.

The sixth applicant, My Liquors at 340 Shrewsbury St., was not granted a license as there were no more licenses to give out and it was the last to be submitted to the commission. However, commission Chair Walter Shea said he would have voted to approve the business for a license if there was one to give, and the application was continued to the commission’s Dec. 1 meeting in case any of the other five applicants were not approved by the state Alcoholic Beverages Control Commission.

While most of the applicants operate or have proposed standard liquor stores, the proponents of Wine & Market on Lincoln Street have proposed a boutique craft liquor store and market that will also sell nonalcoholic beverages, gourmet coffee, gifts and food.

While most of the applicants had little to no opposition at the Sept. 22 meeting, Gateway Wine and Spirits on Mechanic Street had several audience members speak against the application, including the owner of several properties on the block. Opponents said the proposal was inappropriate for the area because of the number of students nearby, the lack of parking and that the neighborhood was already adequately served.

Shea said Thursday that the store was appropriate because of the number of apartments that would soon be opening in the area.

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