SOUTHWICK – The Board of Selectmen is considering a request for a beer and wine license for 801 College Highway.
The Smartmart store – widely known as the former Cinderella’s – is a gas and convenience store owned by Suni Patel.
Patel also owns two other stores one in West Springfield and one in Easton. Patel’s brother-in-law would manage the Southwick store and oversee alcohol sales.
An attorney for Patel said he was a struggling small business owner who wanted to add the beer and wine sales to boost his business and provide a service to customers.
She also disclosed that Patel previously held a liquor sales license in another location and lost it due to sale to underage customers. To ensure that doesn’t happen again Patel and his staff would become TIPS certified and also purchase an app that would scan identification cards to check for fraud.
Selectman Chairman Joseph Deedy expressed some concern about the past problem.
“This board is kind of tough” he said. “We’re not big fans of violations.”
The Board is also not prone to allowing more alcohol licenses than they deem necessary. They previously denied a license request from Ocean State Job Lot and said the town’s alcohol sales needs were already being met.
The town has three all-alcohol licenses available and already has a total of 28 licenses for alcohol sales.
