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Williamstown Board OKs Store at Five Corners TransferBy Tammy Daniels
iBerkshires Staff
02:11AM / Wednesday, June 10, 2009
New Selectmen Chairman Thomas Costley. The board reorganized at its meeting two weeks ago. Ronald Turbin was named vice chairman. Top, this year's board of Selectmen. |
WILLIAMSTOWN, Mass. — The Selectmen approved two license transfers on Monday night paving the way for a change of ownership for The Store at Five Corners.
Acting as the Alcoholic Licensing Commission, the board approved the transfer of the wine and malt license from store owner Meredith Woodyard, acting as Berkshire Five Corners Inc., to Robert M. Walsh of Lenox. The victualler's license was also transferred.
The more than 200-year-old South Williamstown store and all its contents has been listed with Alton & Westall Agency for $585,000. Walsh and Kristin Lewis have entered into a purchase-and-sales agreement with Woodyard, who is retiring. The sale was to be completed after the transfer of the licenses.
Attorney Harris N. Aaronson, representing Walsh and Lewis, said the store would be the couple's main source of support for themselves and their five children. Lewis' father, Franklin C. Lewis, was planning to purchase the real estate and lease it back to the couple, who would own the business.
The alcohol license must still be approved by the state Alcoholic Beverages Control Commission.
Robert Walsh said he didn't expect to make any major changes to the landmark cafe and bakery other than to expand the kitchen operations.
"I want to continue to serve the best food anybody can possibly ask for," he said. "As well as keep it as a meeting place as it as been for 200 ers or so since the business orginated. ... I want it to be a place that everyone who's ever been to Williamstown can come back to and hang our for generations to come."
Selectwoman Jane Allen wanted to be assured that the Walsh was aware of the town's strong concerns over the dispensing of alcohol.
Selectman Thomas Sheldon, who was elected to the seat vacated by Richard Steege. |
Walsh told the board he had a background in managing full-service and fast-food restaurants. "All the fine dining restaruatns I've run I've always controlled the alcohol ... but the license has always been under the owner's name."
"What we expect is 100 percent compliance. We expect that people will be carded and that alcohol will not be provided to people who are ineligible to receive it," said Allen, who added the town has been working hard toward that goal.
Walsh said he planned to pursue both TIPS and SafeServe training.
Town Manager Peter Fohlin wanted it be clear that license was a package store license, which would require customers to leave the property to consume the beverages. Walsh agreed: "We don't want consumption on the premises."
Selectman Ronald Turbin thanked Woodyard and her husband, Thomas Masone, for having continued the Five Corners tradtion. "I think it's a town landmark and a treasure."
Walsh said he was trying to convince Woodyard to stay longer to keep him in line. "You'll be lucky if I'm there tomorrow," she laughed
In other business the board:
■ With the Board of Library Trustees, voted Peter Mehlin to fill the vacancy on the trustees left by Thomas Sheldon's election to the Selectmen. Mehlin, president of the Friends of the Milne Library, will serve until the next election.
■ Approved passage through the town of the annual Multiple Sclerosis Society's Bike and Hike on Sept. 26 with the condition all route signs be removed immediately after.
■ Approved the closing of Saulnier Drive from 3:30 to 8 on Friday, June 19, for an annual block party.
■ Approved a victualler's license and background music for the new Subway on Main Street owned by Brigesh Patel.
■ Approved a letter of support for Church Corner LLC's application for a 40B permit. The permit was instituted by the state some years ago to fast-track affordable housing projects.
■ Heard information on the coming 2010 federal Census from local coordinator Susan Hagen. Hagen said the Census would be hiring up to a thousand workers in the coming months in prepartion for door-to-door counting after the mailing of forms next March. She also explained that the Census would be working with the college to count students residing in Williamstown for at least six months and a day.
Fohlin, however, was taken aback by her statement that the town had a very good count rate, above the national average, of 71 percent in 2000.
"We can put our fingers on every person in town," he said. "We know who they are, we know where they live."
There was some discussion about where the "other 29 percent" were; it was decided to speak with Town Clerk Mary Kennedy.
Nagen said she would be available to any groups or governmental boards that wished information on the Census. |
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