Deerfield gas station granted license to sell beer and wine
Recorder Staff
Sunday, September 04, 2016
DEERFIELD — There’s a new store in town where residents can go to purchase beer and wine.
A beer and wine liquor license, applied for by the Sunoco gas station on Routes 5 and 10 in Old Deerfield, was approved during a recent Selectboard meeting, but not before some residents voiced concerns
“We have a different view — we’re opposed to the liquor license for a number of different reasons,” said Richard Arms, who was speaking on behalf of his mother, Joan Arms, who lives at 8 Old Main St., the property next to the gas station.
He expressed safety issues liquor might bring to the area, mentioning previous break-ins and citing the murder of 21-year-old Brandy M. Waryasz and her unborn son back in 2005, which happened in the gas station when it was under prior ownership and when the station didn’t sell liquor.
Zafar Kiani, the current owner, purchased the store in the beginning of 2015. Since then, he said the property has been dramatically improved with upgrades that include a surveillance system.
The Selectboard expressed confidence in Kiani’s management and agreed that the store looks a lot brighter since changing hands.
As far as the impact a liquor license would have on the community, a spokesperson for Kiani said the businessman, who owns other gas stations, hasn’t had an underage buyer incident in more than 10 years. He also said any incidents that happened at the property under prior management don’t reflect on the current owner.
Despite the rebuttal, Arms said he doesn’t want to see more liquor sold in the area.
“We don’t see the need for it, given Savage’s market a stone’s throw away, and Deerfield River Liquors store up the road,” he continued, “It seems overkill to have that many liquor stores in that area.”
He also said he’s afraid the liquor license will tempt students from nearby Deerfield Academy to illegally obtain alcohol.
In opposition to Arms were a few residents, including Hamdi Yildiz, owner of Mr. Hamdi’s Tailoring in Greenfield. Yildiz said in the short time Kiani has owned the store, he has made a good name for himself as a good and fair businessman.
After hearing public comment, the two members of the Selectboard who were at the meeting, Henry Komosa and Trevor McDaniels, unanimously allowed the gas station to sell beer and wine.
Recorder Staff
Sunday, September 04, 2016
DEERFIELD — There’s a new store in town where residents can go to purchase beer and wine.
A beer and wine liquor license, applied for by the Sunoco gas station on Routes 5 and 10 in Old Deerfield, was approved during a recent Selectboard meeting, but not before some residents voiced concerns
“We have a different view — we’re opposed to the liquor license for a number of different reasons,” said Richard Arms, who was speaking on behalf of his mother, Joan Arms, who lives at 8 Old Main St., the property next to the gas station.
He expressed safety issues liquor might bring to the area, mentioning previous break-ins and citing the murder of 21-year-old Brandy M. Waryasz and her unborn son back in 2005, which happened in the gas station when it was under prior ownership and when the station didn’t sell liquor.
Zafar Kiani, the current owner, purchased the store in the beginning of 2015. Since then, he said the property has been dramatically improved with upgrades that include a surveillance system.
The Selectboard expressed confidence in Kiani’s management and agreed that the store looks a lot brighter since changing hands.
As far as the impact a liquor license would have on the community, a spokesperson for Kiani said the businessman, who owns other gas stations, hasn’t had an underage buyer incident in more than 10 years. He also said any incidents that happened at the property under prior management don’t reflect on the current owner.
Despite the rebuttal, Arms said he doesn’t want to see more liquor sold in the area.
“We don’t see the need for it, given Savage’s market a stone’s throw away, and Deerfield River Liquors store up the road,” he continued, “It seems overkill to have that many liquor stores in that area.”
He also said he’s afraid the liquor license will tempt students from nearby Deerfield Academy to illegally obtain alcohol.
In opposition to Arms were a few residents, including Hamdi Yildiz, owner of Mr. Hamdi’s Tailoring in Greenfield. Yildiz said in the short time Kiani has owned the store, he has made a good name for himself as a good and fair businessman.
After hearing public comment, the two members of the Selectboard who were at the meeting, Henry Komosa and Trevor McDaniels, unanimously allowed the gas station to sell beer and wine.
