AMHERST – Bringing products from the United Kingdom to downtown Amherst, including sporting goods and gifts, is an element of a new store that could open by the end of June.
But having a portion of the store be a cafe that serves beer and wine is raising concerns for the Select Board, which Tuesday postponed to May 11 a decision on issuing an all-alcohol license for Londonwest LLC, owned by Heather Sutherland of Ludlow.
Sutherland said her vision for Londonwest, at the former artALIVE space at 35 South Pleasant St., is a retail store with products from Great Britain, such as cricket, tennis and polo equipment and merchandise, combined with an in-store cafe featuring light snacks, such as specialty pastries and desserts, tea and coffee, and beer, all of British origin.
The business plan, though, is still being refined. “It is a start-up, so we’re not established as of yet,” Sutherland said.
But members of the Select Board, who issue liquor licenses, said the mix of retail and liquor might not be appropriate in Amherst.
Constance Kruger said the sports memorabilia and merchandise might draw in people who are not old enough to legally drink alcohol.
“I think that’s a magnet for people to come in and look,” Kruger said.
Douglas Slaughter said he would be more comfortable if patrons consuming alcohol were confined to the boundaries of the 14-seat cafe, and did not wander from there into the retail store.
But Sutherland said part of her intent is to have people browse merchandise while consuming a bottle of beer.
She said two people would be on site at all times, with more staff depending on how busy it becomes.
Sutherland pledged to have an electronic device to verify customer IDs, and observed she is trained in safely serving alcohol.
Select Board Chairwoman Alisa Brewer said this might not be enough to get her vote in favor of the license.
“I’m concerned that you’ve never before had an alcohol license, and this is a college town,” Brewer said.
Board member James Wald, though, said with just 14 seats in the cafe, he is confident in Sutherland’s ability to control alcohol sales.
While the board expressed preference for confining the alcohol serving to the cafe, Michael Simolo, an attorney with Robinson Donovan of Springfield, said it is not unusual for businesses to serve alcohol in one portion and have customers consume in another. He observed that patrons at the Amherst Cinema can purchase wine at a counter and then bring it with them into the theater.
When the board resumes its hearing at 6 p.m. May 11 at the middle school, Sutherland will present a detailed management plan and the board will learn whether it can place appropriate restrictions on where alcohol can be served.
Scott Merzbach can be reached at smerzbach@gazettenet.com.
