NORWOOD – Police visited Hometown Arcade at the Norwood Commerce Center on Friday to investigate a report of a liquor law violation regarding the display of alcoholic beverages.
According to the police report, the department received information that the arcade, located at 61 Endicott Street, maintains a bar area in the rear of the establishment where alcohol is displayed, even on days when the business is not permitted to serve it.
Hometown Arcade does not hold a standard, full-time liquor license. Instead, the business operates using “one-day permits,” which allow for the sale of alcohol only during specific, pre-approved events.
In response to the complaints, Officers entered the arcade in plain clothes to investigate. According to the police report, officers observed alcoholic beverages visible from behind the bar.
To test compliance, one of the officers attempted to purchase a beer. The employee on duty denied the sale, correctly informing the officer that the arcade had not yet received a license to sell alcohol on a full-time basis and would not sell it to the general public.
Following the refusal of service, officers spoke to the manager on duty, Matthew Snow. They informed Snow that even though no illegal alcohol sale took place, he was advised that maintaining a stocked bar area without a permanent license is a violation of local regulations.
According to the report, Snow stated he was unaware that the alcohol could not be displayed on the premises on days he did not hold a permit.
Snow tells Inside Norwood that at no time was alcohol available to the public and all alcohol was secured in their lockable refrigerator.
“We would never sell alcohol without a license,” Snow says. “We had a 1 day permit the day before the police arrived for a private corporate holiday party and have another one next week. It was our understanding that as long as we have alcohol locked up (which we did) then we are allowed to have it on site” Snow told Inside Norwood.
Police noted that Snow was “cooperative throughout the encounter” and agreed to immediately dismantle the display and remove the alcohol from the building. Hometown Arcade has been in the application process for a permanent liquor license for over three years at substantial time and expense. “We would never do anything to risk obtaining a license,” Snow said.
Snow told Inside Norwood he’s suspicious of how the police got the “information” and suspects it was not a typical complaint from the public. “We were told someone from town hall contacted the police, but the police could not tell us who it was” Snow said. He says he’s intending on filing a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request to obtain more information because Snow thinks a Norwood town official is attempting to “sabotage our business and our good names.”
According to the police report, no fines or law enforcement action was taken by Norwood Police Department in connection with the visit. -RD
Hometown Arcade is a community/family friendly business and VERY ethical, as demonstrated, when an undercover policeman was refused to be served a beer by one of the employees. This business is a wonderful addition to Norwood!