In a recent Amherst Board of Licensing meeting, the transfer of a beer and wine license for Kushan LLC was a key point of debate. Kushan Market, currently going through a change of ownership, has made an application for the transfer of their off-premises beer and wine license. The attorney representing Kushan LLC, Tom Rey, along with manager of record and prospective owner Freda Peters, presented the case to the board, outlining that the market features a beer and wine selection and a cafe. The prospective owners, Freda and her sister, are in the process of acquiring both the business and the property on Pine Street.

However, the transfer application was not straightforward. Rey acknowledged that Kushan LLC was still awaiting a certificate of good standing from the Department of Revenue and the Department of Unemployment Assurance. Furthermore, an updated letter from Greenfield Savings Bank was introduced, noting the requirement of a pledge of the license as collateral for a loan. These financial prerequisites became a sticking point during the discussion, as board members debated the risks involved in granting a conditional license.

The conversation among the board members centered on the prudence of approving the license transfer without the complete assurance of the applicant’s financial and property standing. There was a clear divide among the members, with some considering a provisional license that would include conditions, while others showed hesitation, noting the lack of a signed lease and a commitment letter from the bank. The board grappled with the risks and the discomfort linked with approving a license under such uncertain conditions.

In addition to the license transfer, the board addressed the issue of a late application for a summer concert series event. The timing was critical as certain documents were needed before the application could be sent to the state for approval. The board was faced with the decision to either wait another week for the documents or proceed with the application as it stood. Ultimately, the license transfer was approved subject to the completion of the outstanding items on the application.

The meeting also touched on broader regulatory topics such as the management of Delta 8 and Delta 9 THC products in the context of current marijuana regulation, the extension of policies related to take-out alcohol and outdoor dining spaces, and the ongoing rental registration and appeals process.

Furthermore, the board reflected on internal changes with some members indicating their intention to cycle off the board, thus acknowledging the upcoming requirement for new members to be appointed to maintain the board’s functions.