TOWNSHIP COMMITTEE UNANIMOUSLY DENIES ANOTHER SPRINGFIELD AVENUE LIQUOR STORE

Site where liquor store would have gone

A proposal for another new liquor store on Springfield Avenue, this one next to the Deals store and across from Kasper Liquors, was unanimously defeated by the Township Committee on Tuesday following complaints from several residents.

Businessman Ashish Patel and his attorney, Kurt Mehta, presented plans to open a premium wine and beer store on the site at 1715 Springfield Avenue, which is now a furniture store, during the Alcohol Beverage Control portion of the meeting.

They said the site would not sell lottery tickets or single containers and vowed to maintain it as a safe and secure location.

But opposition from several residents, including the Hilton Neighborhood Association, included concerns about having another beer and wine establishment on the avenue, which would be the fourth such spot. In addition, they objected to it being across from Kaspers and near the Hilton Library.




The owner of Kasper, We Lee and his wife, also spoke out against the idea, claiming that the competition could hurt their business that has been on the same site, next to the 7-11, for decades.




When it came time for the TC to vote on whether Patel could use his liquor license, which he obtained from the former owners of the now defunct A&P on Valley Street, the TC voted, 5-0, to deny the relocation.

 Ashish Patel and his lawyer get the bad news

"This has been a difficult decision," Mayor Vic Deluca said. "This generally for me would be a 'yes' vote, but after hearing the concerns of people, I am not in favor of this."

TC Member India Larrier agreed, stating, "we are working hard to transform that part of Springfield Avenue. I do not think this adds to that goal."

Committeeman Greg Lembrich added, "I am most troubled about the density of liquor stores and the lack of diversity of stores moving into that area."

Although the location was voted down, Patel can utilize the liquor license in another Maplewood location, but must go through the same review and approval process.