HATFIELD – A former town package store with a long history is set to reopen under new management and has been granted a full liquor license.
William Skorupski Jr. purchased the store previously known as Hatfield Market in December. The 72 School St. property including the storefront, two apartments and a 40-by-42-foot garage were advertised for sale last May on the market’s Facebook page.
During a July 12 Select Board meeting, Skorupski said the store could be a great asset to the town and he intends to bring it back.
“A big part of that (purchase) was to fix it back up,” he said. “It’s been pretty well unaddressed for quite some time.”
But, Skorupski added, the previous liquor license holder didn’t make it financially feasible to transfer that license, which had lapsed.
The Select Board unanimously approved the license as submitted by Skorupski after a public hearing in which all attending residents spoke in favor of the plan.
“The more business is town the better,” said Crane Cesario of Hatfield in support of the undertaking.
But in the past there was a time when men would sit on the two benches facing each other, right in front of the door, she said.
“For a while there it was really rough for women to walk in,” she said.
She said other female neighbors hesitated to go into the store, but over time the market became more neighborly.
“It really depends on the tone the owner sets,” she said. “If you want business, you make it comfortable for everybody,” Cesario added.
Town resident Ed Jaworski said the former store has always been a good neighbor to him.
Lee Sperry of Hatfield, who said he has lived “within baseball throwing distance of the store” for 55 years has also never witnessed a problem related to the store. Hatfield Market’s Facebook page said the small-town store has existed for over 100 years.
Skorupski could not be reached for comment last week.
With the addition of the new store, Hatfield will have four total package stores including Hatfield Beef Co. and Hatfield Center Store, which have wine and malt licenses, and Sisters’ Convenience Store, which has an all-alcohol license. There are 10 total liquor licenses currently granted in town.
“It is clearly a plus to the area,” said Selectman Patrick J. Gaughan.
Sarah Crosby can be reached at scrosby@gazettenet.com.