Closed South Station restaurant could be converted into a liquor store

A company that once proposed a grab-and-go alcohol kiosk in the middle of South Station is back with plan to convert the failed Tavitas Mexican restaurant space into a glass-enclosed liquor store.

Land of Beer, which already runs a liquor store at New York's Penn Station, was scheduled for a Boston Licensing Board vote today, but asked the board to defer any action to give it more time to meet with Leather District residents. The company last year proposed a smaller liquor kiosk at South Station that was strongly opposed by police.

The proposed store, to be called Land of Beer, Wine & Spirit, would not sell nips or single cans of beer, its attorney, Tom Miller, said at a hearing yesterday.

Miller added that all the bottles would be behind a counter and that a full-time greeter would open and close the one entrance for customers. The store would use an electronic scanner to check licenses and IDs, Miller said, adding owner Mohammad Sadiq has considerable experience at Penn Station dealing with potentially fake licenses from other states and countries.

Miller said that in addition to commuters seeking a bottle to go, the shop would also cater to both existing Leather District residents and people who will eventually move into the 320 residential units that will be part of the tower now being built above South Station tracks.

If approved, the store would be open 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday through Saturday and 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. on Sunday, Miller said.

Nobody spoke against the proposal at the hearing, although one Leather District resident said she did want to hear from Transit and Boston Police. Through an aide, City Councilor Ed Flynn (Downtown, South Boston, South End, Chinatown) supported the proposal.