Jamaica Plain market gets OK to add hard liquor to its beer and wine offerings

The Boston Licensing Board today approved a request from Pimental Market, 340 Centre St. in Jamaica Plain, to expand its alcohol offerings from beer and wine to hard liquor.

John Carey, attorney for owner Luis Guerrero, told the Boston Licensing Board yesterday that customers kept asking him to stock liquor. He said Guerrero has owned the bodega for 20 years, the last five with a beer-and-wine license with no complaints- and is "very much a fabric of the community."

Carey said that Guerrero would not clear any shelves of non-alcoholic products to make way for the new spirits, but would instead stock them behind the counter and on currently empty shelving above the refrigerated section - well above the reach of any acquisitive kids. Guerrero agreed not to sell any mini-bottles.

Michael Reiskind of the Jamaica Plain Neighborhood Council said the group strongly backed Guerrero's request, and said he has turned his shop into "a central gathering spot in the neighborhood," midway between Hyde Square and Jackson Square. "It's a good upgrade to a longstanding business," he said.

The location is also midway between full-service liquor stores in the two squares. Unlike when Guerrero first sought a beer-and-wine license, however, they did not oppose his request this time.