Residents who have been enjoying the new Trader Joe’s that opened up in West Windsor this fall will now have more reason to pay the store a visit — it now has a liquor distribution license.
The West Windsor Township Council awarded a $750,000 liquor license to the store on November 23. According to Township Clerk Sharon Young, the township was able to make another distribution license available as a result of a census survey conducted by Mac Acquisition before it was awarded a $700,000 liquor license in September. Mac Acquisition owns Macaroni Grill and On the Border.
The census survey showed enough residential growth to make available another liquor distribution license, Young said, explaining that for every 3,000-person increase in population, the township can offer another consumption license. For every 7,500-person increase, it can offer another consumption or distribution license.
Trader Joe’s new liquor license in West Windsor is its second in the state — the maximum allowed to be held by an organization under state law. The other license is held in the store’s Westfield location.
Although the license has been awarded, there is still a process that can take anywhere from three to four months to complete before liquor can be sold in the store.
According to Young, Trader Joe’s officials had to sign off saying they were able to sell alcohol under state law, but the township’s police department will have to conduct background checks and fingerprints for anyone who is a stakeholder in the venture. “Once it comes back, we contact the Board of Alcoholic Beverages, and a license is created,” she explained. A person-to-person transfer is then conducted because “technically, we initiated [the license], and we still own the license,” but at that time, it will be given to the store.
At that point the new store in the Lowe’s retail center on Route 1 North will be able to sell alcohol, including its very popular wine, nicknamed “Two Buck Chuck.” The actual price runs between $1.99 and $3.49 per bottle, depending on the region.
Also on November 23, the council initiated the bid process for a new hotel/motel exception plenary retail consumption license — most likely for Hyatt Place, which has already approached the council regarding the matter.
Officials from Hyatt Place — formerly the AmeriSuites hotel on Route 1 — asked West Windsor Council earlier last month to be considered a smaller hotel when it submits a bid on a liquor license. The request came just after the council adopted an ordinance reflecting a new state law that allows towns to establish a minimum bid of $25,000 on smaller hotels looking to obtain liquor licenses. The hotel is expected to submit a bid of $31,150 and believes it falls within the small hotel threshold in the ordinance. Also on November 23, the council approved the initiation of the process, which begins with the township sending out advertisements seeking bids, although Hyatt Place is the only hotel expected to submit a bid. “Technically, anybody could submit a bid,” Young explained. “I don’t know of any other hotel that would do that. We just started advertising, and there are statutes that we have to abide by. We’ve got to advertise it, and we can’t open the bid until 30 days after the last publication.” The last day for the township to accept bids is on Wednesday, January 13.
“This is a unique license — it’s not like a license the Palmer Inn has,” said Young. “It’s not for public consumption. It’s just for the guests of the hotel.”
During the November 23 meeting, the council also approved the place-to-place transfer of the distribution liquor license owned by Wegmans Food Markets. The transfer allows Wegmans to sell liquor in other areas of its main store — not just its liquor store.
Although the liquor store is right next to the main building, customers are required to pay for their items separately — before heading into the other building.
Young said Wegmans desired to have a one-stop shop, including the ability to set up wine or beverage displays near their cheeses — something not allowed under the current license. Wegmans also offers cooking classes for which participants may want to bring wine.
The license went into immediate effect after it was accepted via resolution, but Young said Wegmans officials are taking precautions. For example, only cashiers over 21 years of age will be able to ring up alcohol for sale.
