South Norwood Liquor License Transfer to Can Connection Approved-August 21, 1985

The Norwood Board of Selectmen officially approved the transfer of an existing malt and wine liquor license from Paul’s Variety Store in South Norwood to the Can Connection. The board’s affirmative vote brings an end to months of community commercial uncertainty that had been brought on by several procedural delays.

The Can Connection, which currently operates three successful commercial locations split between Norwood and Walpole, specializes primarily in the high-volume sale of soft drinks and the redemption of monetary deposits on empty beverage cans and bottles. According to corporate information provided by Can Connection Vice President John Lightizer, the company plans to utilize the storefront located at 1032 Washington Street to sell basic everyday convenience items, such as bread, milk, and cigarettes, in addition to the newly acquired retail selections of beer and wine.

A group of South Norwood residents attended the selectmen’s meeting to express clear neighborhood concern regarding the transaction. The citizens voiced apprehensions that introducing another commercial storefront licensed to sell alcohol could directly hamper ongoing, grassroots neighborhood efforts to spruce up and revitalize the local area.

Responding to the residents’ concerns, Selectmen Chairman John Kinnaly voiced historical agreement with the crowd’s perspective on regional licensing density. “I have very little respect for the board of selectmen years ago who dumped a lot of licenses in South Norwood,” John Kinnaly stated frankly. “I agree that there are too many bars in South Norwood.”

Despite his criticism of past municipal over-allocation, John Kinnaly stated that he believed this specific retail store would serve as a genuine asset to the business district, adding that he held a high degree of confidence in the transaction because the corporate owners of the Can Connection maintained an excellent professional reputation within the community.

Archival Note: This article has been dynamically reconstructed from the original public record print archives of the Patriot Ledger