Craft Beer Cellar - Braintree

They must have a thing for picking spots with no parking. That would make three locations with impossible parking.

 

The Trade Joe's model.

 

how does CBC get around the MA liquor license limit? if franchises "don't count", that's kind of weird...especially if they're also negotiating with breweries collectively

 

As of January 1, 2012 the total number of on-premises licenses for a single licensee increased from 3 to 5 (and in 2016 it goes from 5 to 7, in 2020 it goes from 7 to 9). How many CBC's are there now? There may very well be other ways around the 5 license limit, but that's my guess

 

Westford? That's awesome. I had been thinking Westford was a perfect location for a better beer or beer/wine store. No real competition in town, reasonably wealthy area. I was under the impression that the town wasn't allowing any more liquor licenses, but I guess I was wrong. This will likely become my default destination for beer.

 

The Kappy's group gets around the limit somehow. From past ABCC rulings it looks like if you get royalties from alcohol sales you count towards the cap, so my layman's guess is that these new CBCs count towards the limit. Maybe the Kappy's places just license the name for a fixed fee or something...?

 

I used to work at a Kappy's and The only thing the same between any of them is the name and the rot gut kappy's brand liquor they sell.

 

Each franchisee is responsible for obtaining their own license. This makes them independent from the Belmont & Winchester stores. The royalties are for branding and marketing, I'm assuming.

 

The pertinent language in the statute (M.G.L. ch. 138, s. 15) states:

Without digging deeper into what the bold font really means, my guess is that at least some or all Kappy's locations are independently owned and operated and simply license the name.

Actually, the completely useless Kappy's website says:

EDIT: Actually, the "participate in any other action designed to effect common results of more than 5 licensees" seems like a pretty broad catch-all

 

Re: the 4 round interview process....the first "round" is submitting your application/resume. The 2nd is filling out ten short questions via email and the 4th round is a final details meeting.

4 Rounds sounded daunting to me too, but then I read it, and it sounds the same as getting a job at Dunkins.

 

Don't forget the story...

 

Short story, 10 short response answers, plus phone and in-person interviews. Is there a standardized test as well? We're talking about a retail job at a liquor store, not grad school

 

Wow. I already dislike this store and never stepped foot inside. Braintree is a stones throw away too.

 

It's a nice store. But, ironically, I think it caters more to the craft beer neophyte than the experienced beer geek. All I need to meet my needs is a well-stocked shelf to browse through, good prices, and a free place to park my car. But, others like high-touch service, knowledgeable employees who can answer their questions, frequent updates about what's in stock and special orders, etc, etc. Craft Beer Cellar is there for the handholding, and they do a great job with it, but you pay for it.

 

There are well over 7 Blanchards in the state, essentially split up by a family many years ago. Some of them are together, some are completely independent. It's actually pretty annoying for customers and staff alike, since customers often bring in wrong advertisements, check the wrong website, call the wrong store for info, etc.

If I were giving advice to CBC on franchising, I'd tell them to make the CBC the secondary part of the name. Slappy Pappy's Liquors: A Craft Beer Cellar.

 

Spanky's Tasty Burgers: McDonald's

 

I welcome the competition. I think any one paying for an idea as simple as good beer store is destined to fail. Kate and Susan do a fantastic job but for that to translate to every franchisee. Come on...get real. There are good Dunkin Donuts and straight crap Dunkin Donuts. In the long run they are watering down something special. I can also guarantee the Braintree franchisee can not afford the other side of Braintree nor would the majority land owner rent/lease to them. I personally do not think they will get a license in Braintree....however.....good luck!

 

Personally I welcome the Braintree location as it is 2 minute drive from my house or 7 minute walk! What I look forward to is tastings if they do like Belmont, twice weekly. I love Granite but unless John is there, I can spend an hour there with nobody asking if they can help me find anything.

As for that side of Braintree vs the other, I am guessing they got better rent deal in Landing. Lot of older stores have been kicked out to make way for revitalization of the area. You have a train station within 5 min walk for parking or even Chair Fair lot across street, though they post no parking signs so need to be quick. Also there used to be a municipal lot across street behind the buildings near the Mexican restaurant. I believe the plan is to reopen that lot if it isn't already. Three restaurants, Passport, Four Square and El Sarape have survived with limited parking, so hopefully they will too!

 

Or ,nice knowledgeable sales staff familiar with recent brews and availability of great product.

 

They have a ton of crap there just because it's craft.