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Select Board approves late‑night hours for Shake Shack, declines earlier alcohol service
Summary
The Select Board voted 5–0 on June 2 to extend Shake Shack’s evening Common Victualler and liquor hours to midnight, but declined a request to start alcohol service earlier in the morning.
The Wellesley Select Board voted unanimously June 2 to approve extended evening hours for Shake Shack at 74 Central Street while declining to permit earlier morning alcohol service.
Attorney David Himmelberger appeared for the applicant and said Shake Shack sought to expand Common Victualler hours to 10:00 AM–12:00 AM Monday–Saturday and align alcohol hours with those evening hours. Select Board member Colette Aufranc said she opposed earlier morning alcohol service for a chain burger establishment and distinguished that request from recent approvals for smaller, independent restaurants seeking earlier alcohol service for brunch.
Board members noted fairness with neighboring Central Street restaurants and staff confirmed that most nearby licensed establishments have alcohol service permitted until midnight; staff also noted alcohol accounts for less than 2% of Shake Shack’s sales. The Board agreed to bifurcate the request: approve the expanded CV hours and extend evening alcohol service to midnight, while declining to advance morning alcohol sales.
The Board voted (5–0) to approve the Common Victualler hour change (motion by Colette Aufranc, seconded by Thomas Ulfelder) and separately voted (5–0) to approve the liquor‑service hours to midnight for evenings (motion by Aufranc, seconded by Ulfelder).
