‘Upscale’ Package Store Opening Soon In Hamden

HAMDEN, CT — After gaining the approval of the Planning and Zoning Commission, a Woodbridge woman plans on opening a new "boutique package store" in Hamden next week, according to the New Haven Register.

The Register reports Angelia Rorison plans to open New England Spirits & Wine on Nov. 15 in a 1,450-square-foot space at 1246 Whitney Avenue, between The Soup Girl and Whitneyville Food Center.

In addition to sales, Rorison intends to offer “small weekly tastings to share Connecticut’s history, highlight products from her distributors, and share mixology recipes with customers,” according to the minutes from the Oct. 28 Planning and Zoning Commission meeting.

New England Spirits & Wine will be open from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Tuesdays through Saturdays, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Sundays, and would be closed on Mondays.

In her presentation to the commission, Rorison “acknowledged the limited parking at the site but said that she and other businesses had been discussing possibility of sharing parking, and she also noted the nearby municipal lot,” the meeting minutes state.

New England Spirits & Wine is described as an “upscale package store” in the special permit and site plan application.

According to the statement of use for “New England Spirits & Wine Purveyors (NESWP)” in the special permit and site plan application, the business is described as a “Connecticut-based retail and educational concept dedicated to the celebration of regional craft beverages, immersive storytelling, and elevated consumer experiences.”

“NESWP will operate as a hybrid destination-part boutique bottle shop, part experiential classroom-offering a curated selection of New England wines and spirits alongside a robust calendar of tastings, classes, and events,” according to the application. “The NESWP brand is rooted in the legacy of Connecticut's Prohibition-era defiance and the cultural richness of New England's distilling and winemaking traditions. Through a blend of retail, education, and entertainment, NESWP aims to foster community engagement, deepen consumer knowledge, and elevate appreciation for artisanal beverages.”

Read the full story at the New Haven Register here.