By Michael Coughlin Jr.
At the latest Gove Street Neighborhood Association (GSNA) meeting last week, representatives from Maverick Street Market shared their plans to upgrade their existing alcohol license.
Kevin Butler, an attorney from McDermott, Quilty, Miller & Hanley LLP, explained that the business located at 207 Maverick Street, which, according to the city’s website, is situated on the first floor of a four-story condominium building, currently holds a Wine and Malt Alcoholic Beverages License.
“The ownership team has operated here without incident, and now, at the request of their customers in the neighborhood, they’re looking to expand their offerings to the community,” Butler said, noting the establishment is seeking an All-Alcoholic Beverages License.
“They’ll continue to strive to be good neighbors by continuing to keep the interior and exterior of their store clean and by preventing loitering,” he added.
Butler also indicated that an abutters meeting was held previously and said there were “no issues with the proposal at that time.”
Roberto Gomez, East Boston’s Liaison, corroborated Butler’s characterization of the abutters meeting, saying, “There were absolutely no concerns.”
“In fact, this is one of only two projects that Eva (Jones, a community engagement specialist with the city) has handled where there was very strong support for the proposal that they have tonight,” Gomez added, indicating residents signed on to a petition to support the establishment, which he described as not being normal.
Those in attendance did not raise many questions or issues about the proposal at last week’s GSNA meeting.
However, one resident did make a comment calling the establishment a “perennial eyesore.” The resident also took issue with the window signage and the interior storefront, which they described as “unkempt.”
In response, Butler said, “We’re definitely open to doing a better job with all of that. It’s been our priority to keep the interior clean as well as the exterior.” He also mentioned he could have a discussion with the ownership team to help solve the issue.
Regarding the potential for a vote on the proposal, it is customary for the GSNA to have projects presented twice before they are put to a vote.
Butler indicated that a vote would depend on the timing of the future Licensing Board hearing.
He stated that if the projected Licensing Board hearing were later, they would be happy to return to the GSNA next month for a second presentation and a vote, but would forgo it if they could get on sooner.
For more information about the GSNA, visit its website at https://www.govestreet.org/ or its Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/groups/govestreet/. The next GSNA meeting is scheduled for July 28.