Edgartown selectmen Monday approved a change in location and name for The Town Provision Company that will allow owner Brion McGroarty to shift his year-round liquor license from his current location on Mayhew Lane to a new, expanded and renamed package store, MV Wine and Spirits, located off the entrance road to Martha’s Vineyard Airport.
Lawyer Sean Murphy represented Mr. McGroarty and his son, also named Brion, who were present but did not speak. “In order to keep it viable, the problem they have is in the summer when there’s plenty of people, there’s no parking, and in the winter when there’s plenty of parking, there’s no people downtown,” Mr. Murphy said.
An Oak Bluffs resident and former owner of the Wharf restaurant on Main Street in Edgartown, Mr. McGroarty Sr. broke ground in the spring on the new shop that is being built adjacent to Flatbread restaurant. It is expected to open sometime in late September.
In other business, selectmen gave their final approval for the Martha’s Vineyard Food and Wine Festival, planned for October 17, 18, 19, and 20. Selectmen had approved a proposal from the Edgartown Board of Trade to move the annual festival from the Field Club to a new location downtown, but they had to revisit the plans after several disgruntled business owners in the area said they were not notified by the Board of Trade about plans to pitch tents on Mayhew Lane and close Kelly street to traffic for three days during the festival.
“I think we worked out our differences and our little situation that we had,” said Mayhew Lane business owner Michael McCourt. “I still won’t be able to get out of my driveway, but we’ll work that out. I think they’ve put a lot of work into this, and I hope it’s a huge success.”
