ADAMS, Mass. — Venues that closed during the pandemic may be in danger of losing their pouring licenses.

 

Administrative Assistant Deborah Dunlap told the local license authority subcommittee meeting on Wednesday morning that is unclear if the Alcoholic Beverages Control Commission will let businesses that have been closed because of COVID-19 keep their licenses. 

 

"The ABCC has put out the guideline that the limit is six months [of inactivity], but they basically said it's the discretion of the town," she said. "They strongly urge you not to go beyond six months, but I think it's the town's discretion, the way they had said it to me. I don't know if they changed their feeling on that. But that's what was expressed to me when I talked to them about it." 

 

She said she will determine how to handle these cases, noting Red Carpet at 69 Park St., which closed at the end of 2019, and the Grille at 77 Summer St. as examples of such businesses. 

 

The ABCC decides the number of liquor licenses a city can have based on population quotas as determined by the U.S. Census. She said the commission has been re-evaluating the current quotas, which could alter the number of licenses Adams can give out. 

 

"The way they've done it in the past is that if they changed the population to allow certain quota, if we had active licenses, they are not going to take those away," she said. "But they just won't let you use them after they go away."

 

Dunlop also shared that liquor license renewal applications for Adams businesses are due on Monday, Nov. 15, with the pickup deadline for the renewed licenses slated for noon on Nov. 31.

 

In addition to Dunlap, Selectmen Vice Chairwoman Christine Hoyt, Selectman Richard Blanchard, and Town Administrator Jay Green were in attendance. 

 

Adams businesses that need to renew their liquor license will have to fill out several forms for the Nov. 15 deadline to keep serving alcohol. Dunlap explained that these businesses are going to receive these forms from the town. 

 

Another business mentioned was Poseidon Coffee, located at 3 Hoosac St. behind the Adams Visitors Center. The subcommittee discussed Poseidon Coffee's interest in obtaining a seasonal liquor license or something similar.

 

Owner Todd Fiorentino subcommittee a few months ago that he was interested in selling Irish coffees and similar beverages. 

 

"I think somebody had the idea that, rather than a seasonal license, we issue them a series of special events, which might work," Green said.