One applicant may not be eligible; Vote is expected on Oct. 5
Three candidates competing for Arlington’s two new package store licenses faced questions about their businesses from the Select Board Monday night.
The applicants, accompanied by their lawyers, each spoke about why they wanted the licenses and about their qualifications to run a store that sells alcohol.
In one contentious moment, the lawyer for applicant Utsav Patel, owner of Ruby Wine and Spirits, said one of Patel’s rivals is ineligible to receive a new license because he already has a package story license in Arlington. State law prohibits anyone from holding more than one such license in the same town.
The lawyer, Sydney Prokos, pointed out that Nilesh Patel (unrelated to Utsav), who is seeking a package store license for his Peter Pan Superette convenience store, also owns BB Liquors on Mass. Avenue. Prokos said her client owns another business too, but it is Groton.
Nilesh Patel, however, said Peter Pan is a family business and that his son would own and manage it if Peter Pan gets the license. “If you guys granted the license, my son [is going to] be in the business, and he’s [been] running from businesses for five years,” Nilesh said.
Select Board Chair John Hurd pointed out that the license for BB Liquors was filed by a different company and questioned whether the two entities are separate enough. Board members said they want to examine the legislation.
The Select Board also had questions for each of the applicants.
Board member Stephen DeCourcey asked about the potential impact of Nilesh owning two stores selling alcohol so close to each other. Nilesh said each store has its own regular customers.
DeCourcey also asked Arlington Center Fine Wines owners Pietro Giglio and Chris Lianos about selling cigars — something they had mentioned as a potential companion to their bourbon selection. Cigar licenses require separate approval from the Board of Health.
Giglio and Lianos said they were aware of the requirements and would seek that license later, should they get the package store license.
Select Board member Diane Mahon, who attended the meeting via Zoom, asked about selling “nips,” tiny bottles of distilled spirits.
The selection of nips at the store would be “more eclectic” than those at a traditional store, and more tailored to be samples or additions to gift baskets, Lianos said. It would not be a product they focus on selling.
Only one member of the public spoke about the applicants. David Goudreau, a longtime employee of Ball Square Fine Wines in Somerville, which Lianos owns, described the business as well run.
“Ball Square Fine Wines is definitely one of the best models you can bring to any neighborhood or area in Boston,” Gourdreau said. “They do comprehensively, top to bottom, the best customer approach to retail, which is they focus entirely on what the customer wants, what the customer needs, and what the area requires.”
The Select Board plans to vote on the licenses Monday, Oct. 5.
This story and photographs, published on Sept. 30, 2026, is part of a partnership between YourArlington and the Boston University Department of Journalism’s Newsroom program. Story is by Kayla Baltazar and photos by Summer LaRose.
