Two Sharon Businesses Eye Amending Town Meeting All-Alcohol Proposal

Two Sharon business owners want voters to expand into their business districts a proposal allowing all-alcohol licenses at Shaw's Plaza, and along Route 1.

owner Jonathan Hall and owner Maria Semyoniv are working with Sharon's town counsel to draft a proposed amendment to this May 7 annual town meeting proposal, Town Administrator Benjamin Puritz said Tuesday night.

Puritz plans to ask town counsel about an additional amendment to require maintaining the grocery aspect of those businesses that receive all-alcohol licenses.

As written, the town meeting proposal asks voters to authorize selectmen to file a home rule petition with the Legislature allowing Sharon to issue four all-alcohol sales licenses, but only to businesses at Shaw's Plaza, Sharon Commons or along Route 1.

Sharon Market is in Sharon Center, at the traffic light. Bread 'N' Butter is in Sharon Heights Plaza.

Both have licenses to sell beer and wine, Selectmen Chairman Richard Powell said Tuesday night, when Hall and Semyoniv met with the board.

Semyoniv said that "it's very tough to be in competition" when some stores, but not all, can apply for all-alcohol licenses.

Customers will go to the stores with licenses, "buy everything that they need, and at the same time, save gas," Semyoniv said.

Semyoniv and Hall both said their stores can handle the additional product.

Hall said he would move shelves and coolers, and shrink aisles, which "don't need to be that wide."

Powell said both stores are in "relatively residential areas."

"Certainly at town meeting, an amendment would be in order," he said.