The Boston Licensing Board decided Thursday to take no immediate action on a request from the owner of Aguasvivas Market, 926 Morton St. in Mattapan, to add Caribbean and Latin American beers and wines to his bodega offerings.
The board said it would instead take the three weeks until its next voting session to review comments, including negative ones from nearby neighborhood groups and two city councilors, who cited the potential for trash, the impact on the nearby Morton Liquors, and the store’s location near a BPS school, whose students already congregate at the store.
At a hearing Wednesday, Angel Aguasvivas, whose father started the market 12 years ago, said his focus on niche beer and wines and his ability to provide “one-stop” shopping would differentiate his store from Morton Liquors. His attorney, Travis Jacobs, cited Yelp reviews complaining about inconsistent hours and high prices at the packie.
Aguasvivas noted his store already sells tobacco products, so he and his workers know how to keep students from the nearby Boston International Newcomers Academy on Maxwell Street from getting their hands on products meant for people over 21. He added he would also purchase ID scanners. And the alcohol would be confined to two coolers right at the checkout counter, so employees would always have their eyes on them.
Ja-Hon Wang, an administrator at the academy, praised Angel Aguasvivas for creating a welcoming environment for students, one that is “much beloved” by them, but allowed that he and other leaders at the school are “a little bit nervous just having drinks and closer access to our students.” Should the store be granted a beer and wine license, he said he hoped Aguasvivas would be amenable to a discussion on “how to better manage our young people around the store.”
Through aides, district Councilor Brian Worrell and at-large Councilor Ruthzee Louijeune opposed a beer-and-wine license at the store, citing opposition from the Redefining Our Community and West Seldon neighborhood groups over such issues as trash and all the young people who congregate their now.
Conor Newman of the city Office of Neighborhood Services said that in addition to opponents, his office received a petition in favor of the request signed by 107 people, including from “many abutters” on Morton Street.
Stephanie Salant of Morton Liquors spoken in opposition, citing the same concerns raised by Worrell and Louijeune.
At a voting meeting yesterday, licensing-board Chairwoman Kathleen Joyce discounted opposition she felt was based on the issue of competition, saying competition is not a reason to oppose a liquor license. But said she wanted more time to consider other comments about the proposal. Board members Keeana Saxon and Liam Curran agreed.
