A Rhode Island businessman who hopes to open a boutique liquor store at 1721 Washington Street was met with outspoken resistance from about 40 neighbors who met with him on Thursday, July 14 at the store's intended location, the current home of Bark Place. The team behind the proposed Bullfinch Liquors consists of Vikesh Patel, manager of World of Wines in Providence, R.I. and Jat Patel, who claims retail and liquor distribution involvement in the UK, Australia and New Zealand as well as investments in the hospitality industry in the Boston area. Both list themselves in Bullfinch's short prospectus as South End residents.

Many who live near the store were upset that the Patels have not yet sought a meeting with the Worcester Square Area Neighborhood Association (WSANA) or otherwise engaged with or informed neighbors of their intention, despite having already entered into agreements to buy the liquor license of a now-defunct business in Roslindale and a contingency agreement on the purchase of Bark Place's property provided the Patels receive the liquor license. The news that Bark Place may be replaced by a liquor store surprised and alarmed neighbors last week.

Neighbors worry about increased traffic and parking problems stemming from shoppers double parking in front of the store; increased noise and litter, the area's already-existing influx of people with addiction problems to that area, and question the utility of a wine and beer market so close to Seiyo, 7-11 and other purveyors of wine, beer and liquor. The proposed Bullfinch Liquors would sell fine wines, a wide array of craft beers from local as well as national and international brewers and spirits. Attendees included the presidents of WSANA and of the Blackstone/Franklin Squares Neighborhood Association (B/FSNA), Office of Neighborhood Services liaison Sam Chambers and Shane Pac, an aide to District 3 city councilor Frank Baker were in attendance.

A small-business ownwer who lives on Shawmut Avenue resident began by congratulating the Patels on their entrepreneurship but voiced concerns about the lack of outreach to neighbors and the intensity of alcohol and drug-related woes in this area of the South End, along Mass. Ave.'s "Methadone Mile". "For those of us who live here and live with the addicts, although no one chooses to be so, sitting on our stoops and trashing the neighborhood-until the Methadone Mile changes, it's not going to change your research."

Patel said he was sorry for the lack of engagement with residents and the neighborhood associations prior to filing the store's licensing application but blamed it on his attorney not having informed him of the proper channels to go through to seek resident input. He also acknowledged a "stigma" surrounding liquor stores, adding, "We believe we are above and beyond liquor stores." The prospectus the Patels distributed mentions tentative plans to sell gourmet foods, host wine appreciation nights and drink-crafting lessons.

Sahar Zaheer of the East Springfield Street residents' group questioned whether Vikesh Patel has ever personally owned a liquor license, to which he replied he does not; he manages a liquor store but his mother holds the license. Fellow East Springfield resident Vicki Via pointed out that his liquor store experience is in a very different setting from the South End, and she had reservations about his lack of experience managing a liquor store in an area as beset with addiction-related problems.

B/FSNA's Huang asked what due diligence Patel has taken to investigate safety and other quality of life issues around the 1721 Washington Street location, what he learned about those issues and what steps he plans to take to operate a liquor store there without exacerbating the quality of life problems. Jat Patel introduced himself, briefly outlining his liquor-industry experience in the UK and his residency in the South End over the past five years. "I've seen the area change and gentrify and what sort of need there is in terms of what kind of place to put here."

He noted his ignorance of the community-engagement process for licensing here, which is very different than in his native England. He said the team will not sell "nip" bottles, malt liquors nor the major, national brands of beer, but craft beers aimed away from the low-cost products that lure problem drinkers. He also expressed a willingness to post security at the front door, as does Foodie's Urban Market. Vikesh Patel chimed in, touting the wine tastings, wine appreciation and special events the team plan for Bullfinch as unique benefits to the area, and several residents responded that the neighborhood has several other liquor retailers that already do the same thing. Another neighbor said he thought it impractical to build an economy of scale for the type of business the Patels propose in that location, to which Vikesh replied that they fell they have sufficient backing and savings to provide a cushion for their first few years of brand-building.

Another man told the Bullfinch team that although they seem like nice people with a plan for a desirable establishment, this is neither the time nor the location for it, explaining that the homeless population that is concentrated in the South End is heavily an addicted population. He recounted having picked up over 100 needles while walking his dog near his home and that there is a high incidence of intoxicated people breaking into neighbors' trash and passing out on sidewalks and front steps. Via added that the East Springfield Street neighbors work closely with District 4's Sergeant Lucas Taxter and Officer Richie Litto to keep after the proliferation of needles. Zaheer, who works in commercial banking, rebutted Patel's strategy of upscale pricing discouraging addicts from buying at Bullfinch, arguing that a higher price point would not necessarily discourage purchase of Bullfinch's wares as addicts are prone to making poor spending decisions with their money.

She also took issue with Patel's earlier remarks about trying to weed out "undesirable characters", countering that she and her neighbors have compassion for the "daytime homeless" who are bused in for treatment and have nowhere to go for up to six hours a day. The Shawmut Avenue business owner said that having lived in the South End since 1974, she has never seen such serious problems with crime, drugs and addiction until the Long Island programs closed in late 2014.