Selectmen Approve Alcohol License for Town Center Shop

Delia Michael told Wayland's Board of Selectmen Monday night that she is looking forward to opening her first shop, Bottled of Wayland, at Wayland Town Center.

Michael and her attorney met with selectmen Monday for the public hearing required to obtain her liquor license for Bottled of Wayland, a wine and beer shop at 65 Andrew Ave., in Wayland Town Center.

On Thursday night, selectmen approved Michael's license, making Bottled of Wayland the third of Wayland's five allowed alcoholic beverage licenses of this type. The state regulates how many licenses of various types any given town or city can have. The quotas are "based on the population of the community as determined by the most recent federal census," according to the Alcoholic Beverages Control Commission.

According to a Sept. 24 memo from Town Administrator Fred Turkington, Wayland has exhasuted its quota only in the category of Package Stores, All Alcohol. Bottled of Wayland falls under the Package Stores, Wine & Malt category.

Michael said her family has been in the alcohol service business for many years and Michael herself is TIPS trained and has experience serving alcohol. Bottled of Wayland, however, is her first self-operated business. Selectmen thanked her for choosing Wayland as the site of her business, but also stressed the importance of protecting minors and not serving underage individuals.

“I think that location will probably support your business, which is important," said selectmen Joe Nolan. "My major concern is that minors aren’t served. It’s critical that all your managers, all your employees are TIPS trained.”

Michael said she also takes the safety of minors seriously and that her employees "will all be TIPS trained and they will not hit my sales floor until they are.”

Michael, a Framingham resident, has agreed to a five-year lease at Wayland Town Center. She told selectmen that she hopes to some day offer wine tastings or even cooking classes with wine pairings, but initially will simply operate in sales.