The Lowell License Commission on Aug. 14 approved transferring the package store license for The Liquor Shop at 1201 Bridge Street to A1J Inc. and named Pankaj Patel as the manager of record.
The transfer was approved following a public hearing and a presentation by Jackson Christian, attorney for the applicant. Commissioner Donahue and other commissioners voted to approve the transfer; Commissioner Mercier moved approval and Commissioner Krieger seconded. The vote was recorded as in favor.
The hearing focused on two alcohol-violation incidents that occurred in October 2024 at a different store connected to the ownership group. Attorney Jackson Christian told the commission that the violations involved a single clerk and that the ownership group has since terminated that employee, installed an upgraded ID scanner and renewed staff training. Christian said Patel has prior experience operating convenience stores and is TIP-certified.
Police and counsel confirmed follow-up steps. Captain Peaslee summarized his conversation with Lieutenant Coffey of the Billerica (reported in the hearing transcript as Burke) Police Department, saying the package store was not considered a chronic problem location. Peaslee said, "Lieutenant Coffey... confirmed the same clerk was involved in the two separate alcohol violations" and that the ownership group had fired that clerk and acquired an ID scanner after the incidents.
Attorney Christian added that Rockland Trust is providing financing for the transaction and has requested a pledge of inventory and stock (not the license) as part of that financing.
Commissioners pressed for operational safeguards. Commissioner Donahue said the commission has recently seen "some issues with fake licenses, fake IDs" and warned incoming licensees of the added responsibility when taking on a licensed retail business. Donahue moved that the commission approve the transfer; Mercier moved approval and Krieger seconded.
Outcome and next steps: The commission approved three items requested by the applicant: transfer of the license to A1J Inc.; approval of Pankaj Patel as manager of record; and approval of the pledge of inventory and stock to Rockland Trust Company. No additional disciplinary action against the Lowell location was imposed at the hearing.
Why it matters: Package-store transfers and manager approvals are the mechanism by which ownership and operational control of an alcohol retail business change hands. Commissioners emphasized updated ID checks and staff training as the primary mitigations to reduce underage sales risk going forward.