Liquor board to decide on former EZ Mart

Location had license pulled previously

By Owen Boss

GARDNER — The Board of License Commission will make a final decision Tuesday regarding whether to reinstate the liquor license of a local grocery store at 56 Union Square. The store, which has changed ownership, is located where EZ Mart formerly existed. The new owner, who asked to remain anonymous, has since changed the name of the store to Daily Needs and said he is working toward bringing fresh meat, produce, alcohol, lottery tickets and functioning gas pumps back to the Union Square location. “We offer prices similar to those at grocery stores,” said the owner. “All of our prices here are very low.” According to the new owner, it will be the previous owner Malaiperumal Sundaramurthy who will appear at Tuesday’s meeting, and finalize an appeal that was sent to Boston and then recommended back to the local commission for a final ruling. The liquor store had its license reviewed and revoked in May following an incident that occurred March 28, when a female clerk in the store was arrested for allegedly selling alcohol to a local minor. James Kraskouskas, owner of Anthony’s Liquor Mart, who fought for the license revocation in May, said the new owner should be required to apply for a license like every other store. “This is a very gray area if they have actually sold the business and now someone else owns it, giving the license back to the corporation that lost it wouldn’t be legal in my estimation,” said Mr. Kraskouskas. “If there actually is a new owner there they should apply like everybody else instead of asking for this to be overturned.” Mr. Kraskouskas said every liquor store that applies for a license has to have a manager to approve the license, which would require the new owner to present financial information regarding the transfer of ownership. “Every liquor license has to have a manager to approve the license, what should have happened is the new owner should have applied for a new manager’s approval,” said Mr. Kraskouskas. “The new owner should show some documentation about when he bought it, how much he paid, and how much was paid for the good will of the license.” At the meeting in May, police Sgt. Guy Bibeau urged the commission to impose a lengthy license suspension because he said he didn’t think the sale that resulted in an arrest was an isolated incident. The commission is expected to vote on the issue at the meeting at 4:30 p.m. Tuesday in the City Council Chambers. oboss@thegardnernews.com

Appeared on Page 1 on 9/6/2008 (Vol. 206 No. 211)