Board of Selectmen approves Pride takeover

Date: 1/16/2012

Jan. 16, 2012

By Chris Maza

Reminder Assistant Editor

EAST LONGMEADOW — At its Jan. 10 meeting, the Board of Selectmen met with Robert Bolduc, owner of Pride Stations and Stores, to discuss his company’s takeover of the Mobil station located at the rotary.

Bolduc recently sent a letter to the Planning Board stating his company would be subleasing the station located at 13 North Main St. Bolduc also sent requests to the Board of Selectmen for the renewal of all current licenses associated with the Mobil’s store.

“As you may have known, the former owner chose to sell the gas station and it was bought by a person who invests in gas stations and leases them out,” he said. “He bought it and then he contacted us to see if we wanted to lease it, so we leased it from him.”

Bolduc said his company will continue to operate the Mobil station under its current name, while also continuing to operate its current location on the rotary at 14 Center Square.

“We’ve always been good competitors, now we’ll just compete with ourselves,” he said.

Health Inspector Fred Kowal told the board that he saw no issues with the current store, nor the prospect of Pride being issued food service licenses.

“I’ve worked with Pride for many years and [Bolduc] has an outstanding place at 618 North Main St. that is a showpiece,” he said. “I think it’s an asset to the community that he continues to do business in this town. They’re clean establishments and they do a great job.”

Town Administrator Nick Breault informed the board that some license applications had not been received as of the meeting, but Bolduc said he could have a representative complete all necessary paperwork at Town Hall the following day.

Contingent on the completion of all applications and payment of all associated fees, the board voted unanimously to approve a food service establishment permit, a retail food permit, a milk and cream license and a tobacco license for Pride at the Mobil station.

The board also approved a change in hours. The store will now be open from 6 a.m. to 11 p.m., in order to maintain the same hours of operation as other Pride stores.

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The board also approved a retail alcohol license for the sale of wine, beer and other malt beverages to Ichiban Asian Cuisine, located at 422 North Main St.

Hong Mei Huang, the restaurant’s manager, and her husband Ming Chen, who will act as the substitute manager, moved from Flushing, N.Y., upon purchasing the restaurant, which had previously operated under the name China Buffet, in March 2011.

“Since their opening ... they found that many patrons have requested or asked whether or not they will have alcohol there, so they took it upon themselves to come to the town to request a beer and wine license,” Brian Fitzgerald, the attorney representing the couple, said.

Huang and Chen are both Training for Intervention Procedures (TIPS) certified and a third employee who will serve alcohol is in the process of gaining certification, Fitzgerald told the board.

Selectman Jack Villamaino reminded Huang and Chen that alcohol may only be served to patrons seated at dining tables, no advertisements for the sale of beer or wine should be visible from outside the restaurant and alcohol may not be served when a full food menu is not offered.