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Date: 4/4/2022
HARDWICK – The Hardwick Board of Selectmen hosted two public hearings during their March 28 meeting, for a new all-alcohol package store license and an all-alcohol restaurant license.
The first public hearing was for a new all-alcohol package store license from DCTF Corp., DBA (doing business as) Old Furnace General Store, located at 1839 Lower Rd.
Amber Duval, current owner of the Old Furnace General Store, explained that this location was once Clover Hill and is now going to become a convenience store.
Duval informed Reminder Publishing that she grew up in the area and the store was a place she used to frequent. As the store changed hands, Duval reached out to the owner and learned that he was selling it, “so it worked out,” she said. In November 2021, Duval and her fiance, Jeremy Nowicki, purchased the property.
“Opening a convenience store has been a dream of mine. I am excited to be able to open this store in a community that I have been part of my entire life,” said Duval.
She went on to say that the prior owner “never did anything” with the building, as it has sat vacant for five years. To make use of the space, Duval plans to support local businesses by selling their products, in addition to coffee, lottery tickets and more. “I’m going to be opening the ice cream window again as well,” she said.
She added, “I am hoping to do some kayak and canoe rentals,” which would be seasonal. Duval said this needs to be approved by the Planning Board. Kelly Kemp, Select Board chair said, “It will be nice to have someone back in there,” and supported Duval’s idea to offer kayak and canoe rentals.
As this is a new license, Julie Quink, Select Board member, asked, “How many licenses will we have available after issuing these licenses?”
Nicole Parker, town administrator, said they have “several available.” She explained, “There’s different licenses – there’s package store and then there’s restaurant… there are so many open licenses.”
Parker said Duval filled out the application entirely and advised her to go to the Planning Board either for a waiver or a site plan amendment. This will provide Duval with an understanding of her parameters.
Duval’s anticipated opening of the conveniece store is June 1. “It’s kind of dependent on how everything’s moving forward with all the different boards and everything that I need to go through to get it open in time,” she said.
Parker explained that if the board approves the application, it gets submitted to the Alcoholic Beverages Control Commission (ABCC) and they will decide if Duval’s license is approved or not. Parker said that the ABCC generally makes a decision within 30 days.
Quink made a motion to approve the new all-alcohol package store license. Rob Ruggles, Select Board member, seconded the motion. The board voted unanimously in favor of the application.
Following this approval, a second public hearing took place for a new all-alcohol restaurant license from Hardwick Crossing Inc., located at 262 Lower Rd. Parker said the golf course closed around 2018 and hasn’t been used since.
Dennis Jennette is responsible for submitting this application. He said, “We’re reopening Dunroamin Country Club as Hardwick Crossing Country Club. We’re applying for our liquor license for the golf course, restaurant and bar area.”
He continued, “We are undergoing construction right now. We are hoping to open the bar area for the end of May/beginning of June, but it might be a little later than that. The golf course itself will be open the first week of July is what we’re hoping for.”
Currently they are working on the main clubhouse, which is the old bar area. He informed the board that there will be a bar area and also a restaurant area.
Kemp said all of their paperwork has been submitted as well.
Quink made a motion to approve this license. The motion was seconded and unanimously approved by the three board members.