From the SANDWICH BROADSIDER Oct. 27, 2008...\r
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Sandwich Selectmen have voted unanimously to award an annual all-alcohol license to Merchant Square Liquors.\r
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Merchant Square Liquors has been in business at 8 Merchants Road for five years.\r
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Town Meeting voted to file special legislation to issue an additional all-alcohol liquor license in 2006.\r
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Town Manager Bud Dunham recommended the selectmen base their decision on the type of establishment, experience of the management, the contribution to the community the business makes, geographic location, and parking and access.\r
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The selectmen also looked into whether the business had incurred violations in the past.\r
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Merchant Square Liquors Attorney Joseph Burlandy said the restrictions on the seasonal license have hurt the business because “people want what they want when they want it.”\r
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He said Merchant Square Liquors has not incurred any citations or violations since it opened and has plenty of parking.\r
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He presented a petition signed by over 600 Sandwich residents and three letters from abutters in support of its application for the license.\r
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Merchant Square Liquors is owned and operated by John Santoro and his family.\r
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Santoro is a member of the Sandwich American Legion, the Sandwich Chamber of Commerce, and the Canal Region Chamber of Commerce.\r
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He has organized raffles to benefit the Sandwich Council on Aging and the Sandwich Food Pantry.\r
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Selectman Randy Hunt said he voted to grant the license to Merchant Square Liquors because of its community involvement.\r
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Follow the selectmen’s unanimous vote, a crowd of supporters cheered in favor of Merchant Square Liquors.\r
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