Brookline To Restaurants Eyeing Town: We Have Liquor Licenses

BROOKLINE, MA — Brookline has extra liquor licenses. And that's not only good news for restaurants looking to set up shop here, but for the businesses nearby, say officials. After the town petitioned the State two years ago, they were granted a dozen more last fall. Now, there are extras.

For years, the town had 54 alcohol licenses and 19 wine and malt licenses.

While there's always some turnover in Brookline with businesses opening and closing for various reasons, the town is seeing a number of businesses like nail salons and beauty shops fill vacancies. Those businesses do contribute to the economy during the day, but restaurants draw people to the commercial districts after 5 p.m. and prompt folks to shop later into the evening, according to Brookline's planners. And more business is good news, especially for mom-and-pop shops.

"It's a way for some of those business to stay in business longer," said Kara Brewton, economic development director for Brookline.

Essentially, restaurants bring business and contribute to a thriving business ecosystem. And alcohol licenses are a big part of that. Generally, alcohol sales account for around 30 percent of most restaurants' revenue, according to Bloomberg Businessweek.

So, on Nov. 14, 2017, Town Meeting members gave the green light for the Select Board to petition the state for an additional 40 licenses. By the time the bill, introduced by then-State Rep Frank Smizik made it to its final version - passed last fall - it was amended to an additional 12 licenses.

In an attempt to spread the love to all of Brookline's commercial districts, three licenses were reserved for Brookline Village, five licenses were set aside for the Coolidge Corner, and one license was for the JFK Crossing. And three licenses were set aside for Washington Square.

So far, the town has issued one of those. And there are applications pending for three in the Brookline Village area. That leaves three still available in Washington Square, four in Coolidge Corner and one in JFK Crossing.

Brookline has until October 11, 2020 to issue the extra licenses or risk losing them, according to the bill. And not only that, if they're not used Brookline may not be able to get more, said Assistant Town Administrator Melissa Goff.

"We're using it as an economic development tool," said Goff.

The prospect of liquor licenses helped bring the new hotel at 25 Washington Street, which will in turn provide the town with helpful tax revenue.

"And for our restaurants it's a good way to experience profitability, to have this option," said Brewton.

There are several vacant spaces in town, from the place formerly known as Best Burger Bar in Brookline Village, to the spot that once housed Gen Sou En (and Panera before that) in Coolidge Corner to the space that was once Emack and Bolios in Washington Square.

Patch reporter Jenna Fisher can be reached at Jenna.Fisher@patch.com or by calling 617-942-0474. Follow her on Twitter and Instagram (@ReporterJenna).