Brodeur, Lipper-Garabedian Go To Bat For City's Alcohol Expansion

MELROSE, MA — Mayor Paul Brodeur and Rep. Kate Lipper-Garabedian on Wednesday afternoon spoke in favor of the city's bid to expand retail alcohol sales to include liquor at a Joint Committee on Consumer Protection and Professional Licensure virtual public hearing.

Brodeur and Lipper-Garabedian each supported Melrose's home rule petition that would expand the city's three retail liquor licenses to actually include liquor, in addition to the beer and wine it currently allows for.

Two of the licenses are currently held by Buckalew's and Beacon Hill Wine. The third license is not in use, but Lipper-Garabedian said passing could help bring on a new player.

"Melrose's home rule petition would provide critical relief to the two current license holders in Melrose, which are both small, women-owned businesses, and assist the city with attracting a third business," she said.

Brodeur said it would help end a "competitive disadvantage" license holders have with similar stores in surrounding communities, which do not face the same limitations.

The legislation would include allowing for the sale of nips, a point of contention among many on the Melrose City Council and in the community.

The Council sent the petition to state lawmakers in late February after months of discussion, much of it done by the prior iteration of the Council. It was one of the final major pieces of legislation the Council worked on before the coronavirus changed the way businesses was done. At the time, Lipper-Garabedian had not yet won the seat vacated by Brodeur in November.

Related: Ballot Question To Expand Liquor Laws Passes Key Hurdle