Above: The future home of Sperry’s Country Market at 205 Turnpike Road
Southborough residents will soon have another option for their beer and wine needs. The Board of Selectmen earlier this month unanimously approved a liquor license for Sperry’s Country Market which will set up shop on Route 9 westbound at Middle Road in the other half of the building currently occupied by Red Barn Coffee.
Hoping to draw in commuters on their way home from work, owner Anthony Speranzella said he plans to stock more than just beer and wine. “It’s a country market type of thing,” he told selectmen. “You can come in and get a little of everything.”
Speranzella said in addition to liquor, he will offer prepared foods and produce.
“I feel it will be a major positive for the town of Southborough. It will be an easy in-and-out situation for those traveling back from Boston,” an attorney for Speranzella told the board. “People will enjoy going into this store.”
Selectman Bill Boland noted the new market will bring the total number of establishments that sell alcohol on Route 9 westbound to four. Bill’s Package Store, Turnpike Liquors, and Tony’s Beer and Wine are the other three. “That’s up to you to make a go of it,” he told Speranzella.
As the owner of two convenience stores in Marlborough and one in Hudson, Speranzella said he will be able to use his combined buying power to offer lower prices.
Southborough is allowed to issue up to five Package Store Wine and Malt licenses, Acting Assistant Town Administrator Maureen Colleary said this week. Assuming the state gives its approval to the license for Sperry’s, the town will be maxed out. Colleary said the other four establishments that have a license to sell beer and wine are Stony Brook Market, Fitzgerald’s General Store, Panzano Market, and Tony’s Beer & Wine.
At three, Colleary said Southborough also has the maximum number of establishments that are licensed to sell hard alcohol in addition to beer and wine. Those are Mauro’s Market, Bill’s Package Store, and Turnpike Liquors.
Speranzella said he needs to wait for state approval on the liquor license before he can move ahead. No word yet on when he plans to open.
I was hoping that the story would take on a more human perspective on the story. We already have too many alcoholic establishments in town. (Turnpike Liquor, Stoney Brooke, Mauro’s Market, Bills Liquor etc.. ) Most are within a small area. On one hand we want our children to be responsible about alcoholic beverages and yet we put temptation in front of them. What kind of message is this sending to our children.
As I mentioned before I think that the Selectmen and the owner of of the establishment are doing the town and our children a disservice.