License transfer for Graham’s Package Store approved; termination hearing continued to July 9

The Springfield Board of License Commissioners on May 20 approved a petition to transfer the annual package store liquor license held by Graham’s Package Store to PPMG Inc., d/b/a Chestnut Package Store, and to change the license’s premises to 492 Bridge Street. The board also continued Graham’s Section 77 final hearing (the termination proceeding) to July 9, 2025, to allow time for outstanding administrative and lien issues to be addressed and for review by the state licensing authority.

The transfer would move the license from the current Graham’s address on Main Street to the Chestnut location at 492 Bridge Street while the Chestnut location’s license and operations are being realigned. The matter drew neighborhood comment about loitering, open alcohol consumption and trash near the Chestnut location; the petitioner said planning board approval is in place and neighborhood outreach had occurred.

Attorney Rachel Fancy, representing the petitioner, told the commission that the ownership interest would remain “substantially the same” across the two locations and that the proposed operation at 492 Bridge Street would continue with the same hours and existing use. Fancy said the petitioner met with the neighborhood council and a subset of residents and “heard a lot of their concerns” and committed to operational changes to reduce littering and loitering.

Betsy Johnson, head of the local neighborhood group representing Mattoon Street and adjacent Pearl Street residents, said neighborhood meetings with police regularly raise issues of “open alcohol consumption and loitering in the vicinity of the package store” and that residents pressed the owner to expand efforts to be a “good neighbor.” Johnson told the commission the neighborhood had ultimately chosen not to oppose the transfer after hearing the owner’s commitments.

Commission counsel and the petitioner’s attorneys told the board that liens recorded against the Graham’s license are in the process of being addressed. Fancy said counsel for one lienholder submitted a letter and email stating he would approve the transfer provided his clients are paid at closing. Attorney Schmidt confirmed the board had coordinated with the state Alcoholic Beverages Control authority (referred to during the hearing as ABCC/AVCC) about handling liens in tandem with the transfer.

The commission voted to approve the transfer and change of location. The motion passed with recorded affirmative votes from Commissioner Cade, Commissioner D'Angelantonio, Commissioner Ramirez and Commissioner Espinosa. The board then moved the Section 77 final hearing for Graham’s Package Store to its July 9 meeting so the transfer and state review could proceed and liens be resolved; the continuance motion passed with the same recorded yes votes.

The commission and petitioner also discussed that one of the properties involved had already been transferred to the operator and that the Saint James Avenue license move (to 572 Saint James Avenue) has been approved but remains subject to closing logistics. Fancy said ABCC review was pending and that if the ABCC approves the state-level transfer, the Springfield board would complete its process in coordination with lien resolution.

The board’s approval includes the conditions, explained on the record, that planning approval applied (because the 492 Bridge Street location was previously licensed as a liquor store), that no interior alterations are proposed, and that the petitioner had committed to neighborhood outreach and operational steps to reduce off-premises impacts. The record also notes that the lienholder resolution is expected to occur at closing and that ABCC action remains a necessary step before the local transfers are fully effective.

The board’s next step is administrative: the petitioner and counsel will notify the licensing office and the ABCC if state action comes sooner than July 9; otherwise the July 9 meeting will reconvene the Section 77 matter and confirm the license transfer outcome and lien satisfactions.