Multiple Milford Liquor License Swaps Approved By Select Board

MILFORD, MA — A flurry of liquor license activity in Milford this week might make you feel a little tipsy.

The Select Board on Monday approved a series of liquor license swaps, upgrading pouring permission for several local businesses. But the approvals also released new liquor licenses, making way for more local businesses to start serving.

Here's what went down at Monday's Select Board meeting:

Greater Milford Social Club

The board approved an all-alcohol license for the private Granite Street club. Until now, the club only had a seasonal alcohol permit, forcing it to stay closed in January, February and March. The new license allows the club to stay open year-round and increase the number of charitable events it holds, according to applicant and member Patrick Holland. The new license also frees up the seasonal permit to go to a new applicant.

The social club's license was a transfer from the former Richard's Food & Drink restaurant. The social club will pay about $17,000 to Richard's in connection to the transfer.

Isabel's, Casa Brasil

Apart from the transfer to the social club, Milford had two more all-alcohol licenses to give out.

The Select Board gave the licenses to the restaurants Isabel's, 355 Main St., and Casa Brasil, 112 Main St. Both restaurants previously held wine, beer and cordials licenses. That's a more rare type of license that allows businesses to sell 1/4 ounce pours of certain liqueurs and apéritifs. Those two wine, beer and cordials licenses will now be up for grabs in Milford.

(Town Administrator Richard Villani told the Select Board he would have to check with the Alcoholic Beverages Control Commission to make sure Milford could keep those two cordials licenses.)

Emporium Brazil

The owners of the new Emporium Brazil restaurant, 21 East Main St., also went to the Select Board on Monday seeking an all-alcohol license. However, the Select Board chose to approve the Casa Brasil and Isabel's licenses so that Emporium Brazil could pick up one of the two wine, beer and cordials licenses likely now available in Milford.

Emporium Brazil's owners, Alexandre Coelho and Jehany Mendonca, will have to return to the Select Board in the future for final approval. They said customers have been begging for the restaurant to start serving alcohol to pair with Emporium Brazil's barbecue offerings.

"It's a nice connection, food and beer and meat, you know?" Coelho told the board.