I am a resident and parent of young children. I am very upset to find out that a new wine and beer store is being proposed across the street from the Curley School where I in fact attended middle school. Jamaica Plain has numerous places to purchase wine, beer and alcohol. To allow a store so close to the Curley School sends the wrong message to our children and our community.
If it is true that [owner Michael Dupuy’s] store is so unique to provide products not available in other stores (which seem ridiculous) then there are far more suitable locations in our community. I read claims of no Budweiser or Corona. What happens if the business is not going well? He will have to sell anything to survive. Once the license is granted to this store, the City authorities and the state liquor commission have no control over the store’s product mix. Once it is in business, the store can do exactly what it wants within the confines of the law and the community is stuck. If he sells it, the community can do very little to keep the store boutique and upscale.
Furthermore, his concession to be TIPS trained is something every responsible operator and their employees should have completed. It is no concession. Granting a new license is supposed to be based on the needs of the community. We do not need another alcohol outlet.
This is a bad and dangerous proposal that should be opposed by our community. We have more than sufficient alcohol outlets in our community and if wine and beer are soon allowed in grocery and food stores we will have a lot more.
I hope our community leaders and elected officials will ask Mr. Dupuy to seek another location for his store.
Orlando Benzan, Jamaica Plain
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