Northampton License Commission to host liquor license lottery in July

NORTHAMPTON — The License Commission will hold a lottery for Northampton’s remaining on-premise all-alcohol liquor license in what the city is calling a special opportunity for businesses in Northampton.

The lottery will take place at the Wednesday, July 22 meeting of the Northampton License Commission, and businesses have until the close of business on Friday, July 17, to submit a letter of intent to be eligible for inclusion in the lottery.

“This one is open to anybody who has a signed lease. They [the License Commission] really wanted it to open it up to anybody, not just existing wine and malt holders in the city,” explained Mayoral Operations Manager Annie Lesko.

The letter of intent must include and attest to the following:

• A commitment to being open a minimum of three days per week
• Proof of a signed lease
• A commitment to exercise the liquor license within 90 days of approval by the Alcoholic Beverages Control Commission
• Confirmation that you have not had any prior liquor license revoked by the Northampton License Commission

Letters of intent can be sent via email to Lesko at alesko@northamptonma.gov by the July 17 deadline.

Oftentimes, businesses can privately sell the rights to their liquor licenses on the open market, which then can go for tens of thousands of dollars, according to the city.

In the case of the July meeting, the commission will issue the available license through the lottery. The business that wins the license through the lottery will still have to pay the annual renewal fee of $2,259 as well as an application fee to the city and the state’s Alcoholic Beverages Control Commission. The business would still have to pay legal notice fees at a total less than if the license were to be bought through a private party.

The license will be awarded to a business through a ping-pong ball-style lottery. Lesko said the license brings great value to businesses that need it.

“We have an old school bingo machine that the city clerk has, and we use ping pong balls and number them with however many people apply, and then we choose a neutral party to pick one out of the little spinner,” said Lesko.

The license available through the lottery is the one from the Bishop’s Lounge, which went out of business last year. Bishop’s was unable to transfer the license to a new location, which is why its rights went back to the city.

In total, the city of Northampton has 45 on-premise all-alcohol liquor licenses across the city, as well as 19 for on-premise wine and malt, five special licenses and 17 off-premise licenses.

“It’s a great opportunity. This is the first time in my time that the commission has opened it up to anybody, so we could attract a great new business and/or we could fill a vacant storefront that, as we know, we have many of,” said Lesko. “I’m talking to the chamber, the Downtown Northampton Association, and sending this to landlords and realtors, so as much as we can get the word out, the better.”