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A Post-Pandemic Trend T H E N A T I O N ' S L E A D I N G L I Q U O RS T O R E & L I C E N S E R E S O U R C EADVISORADVISORI S S U E # 1 5 • M A Y 2 0 2 2North End Boston NewsIncrease Your Alcohol SalesQuincy May Be Next

CEO s Note Coming into warmer weather is a treat for us all but for some their business acumen maybe exposed Are you prepared Looking For Featured Liquor Store Listings CLICK HERE Page 4 Why Sommeliers May Need A Liquor License A Post Pandemic Trend They say be careful what you wish for All signs are pointing to a fruitful summer for business as people appear to be making up for lost time After a couple of summers with less than full capacities it seems we are putting the pandemic in the rearview mirror For some owners and stakeholders inflation difficulty finding staff lingering supply issues potential legislation changes and in some cases overall new territory are factors contributing to some uncertainty this season If you re looking for support or curious about what your liquor license or store is worth there s no time like now We re here for you Page 7 Outdoor Dining Controversy North End Boston News Page 8 Cocktail To Go Hour Increase Your Alcohol Sales Page 9 More Towns Banning Nips Quincy May Be Next Sincerely DAN NEWCOMB Founder CEO Liquor License Advisor THE ADVISOR MAGAZINE 2 www LiquorLicenseAdvisor com Liquor License Advisor has been a trusted resource in the liquor store and license industry since 2002

THINGS TO CONSIDER Rounding The Bend We know that warmer weather will bring more people out to enjoy and socialize but what does that mean for owners by Dan Newcomb Staffing Shortages like most other industries restaurants and bars are facing staffing shortages which leads to operators multi tasking and being unable to focus on staff training However staff trainings tastings are a key component to making sales as the servers are the ones ultimately responsible for driving sales home to customers Technological Leaps technology is proving important for training as new technological platforms can effectively reach hospitality staff and improve the impaired training process which ultimately increases sales Youthful Customer Base latest CGA research shows that younger consumers are key when it comes to on premise growth as they are reliable customers in a recovering industry ON PREMISE INDUSTRY TRENDS AND UPDATE As regulations phase out and restaurants and bars once again operate in a mostly normal fashion there are still factors for the onpremise to consider as they move forward in a post pandemic climate A March 17 2022 CGA report highlights what the on premise still needs to consider to not only survive but thrive Drink Trends on premise must also consider that customers drink preferences have shifted during the pandemic Hard seltzers and RTDs that were popular at home choices have now become popular choices while out as well and hard teas coffees and kombucha are also gaining popularity in the on premise For savvy restaurant and on premise owners taking these into consideration will go a long way For owners who ve been around and are tired contact us to get a better idea of what your license is worth and what options you have You just might be pleasantly surprised staff shortages technological leaps youthful customer base drink trends www LiquorLicenseAdvisor com THE ADVISOR MAGAZINE 3

by Dan Newcombwww.LiquorLicenseAdvisor.comTHE ADVISOR MAGAZINE  | 4Dan Newcomb is Founder & CEO ofLiquor License Advisor & has been in theindustry for more than 20 years.A Post-Pandemic Trend

A recent trend has shown a shift in where wine sommeliers are offeringtheir expertise: it seems that many are retreating from the restaurantscene and shifting into the retail scene. As the pandemic caused many high-end restaurants to closetemporarily or even permanently, some wine sommeliers who wereemployed at these establishments decided to move into retail work orretail ownership as a more reliable option as opposed to what quicklybecame an unsettled industry. However, being a wine expert does notnecessarily mean one is a business expert as well, and there are manyfacets to navigate when it comes to liquor licenses, state regulations,and purchasing a space – which is all part of being in the retail world. At Liquor License Advisor, we understand these intricacies and canassist wine sommeliers who are chartering this unknown territory.A recent Daily Seven Fifty article entitled “How Sommeliers Are Shiftinginto Wine Retail Ownership (What longtime restaurant professionalsshould know before launching their own retail shops)” discusses thistrend and showcases a few examples of wine gurus turned retailprofessionals. For instance, sommelier Ryan Burkett was working in arestaurant when the pandemic hit and soon found himself without ajob. Instead of waiting for the restaurant world to rebound, he decidedto utilize his hospitality experience and wine knowledge to create “amore sustainable career in the beverage world.” Similar examples are sommelier Paul Brady who shifted gears andopened his own wine shop in New York, as well as New York restaurantowner and bartender Ivy Mix who opened Fiasco! Wine & Spirits inBrooklyn. Although each of these restaurant veterans may have slightlydifferent reasons why they shifted to the retail route and how they didso, the common thread between them all is that they recognize thenecessity for professional assistance with the many details associatedwith retail.THE ADVISOR MAGAZINE  | 5

“Brady reflected on the retail process by stating that, “You need a liquorlicense, and that process, no matter what way you do it, is painstaking.I can’t imagine getting it done without an attorney specializing in stateliquor authority regulations.” His retail shop took 15 months start to finish to open. Similarly, Burkettwished that he had brought in a lawyer earlier when he decided to takeover an existing liquor store and transfer the license from the priorowner to himself before opening his shop. He now knows that a lawyercould have helped with both identifying available businesses for sale inhis targeted area, as well as acting as an advocate in negotiating feesand terms. Mix’s Brooklyn shop took 13 months to get approved for theliquor license, and she paid rent that entire year while awaitingapproval.Opening a store can be very expensive when you consider the possiblerenovations and equipment needed to prepare your space, as well asthe amount of inventory required to start. Although the cost of hiringprofessionals to assist with the process can seem like just anotherexpense added to an already expensive endeavor, the articleacknowledges that “getting a pro on board to help navigate the processcan save time and money in the end.” Our Team at Liquor License Advisor can not only assist with navigatingthe many details associated with liquor license availability andtransfers, but also with state laws and regulations. We also work with a network of attorneys who specialize in liquorlicenses and can make a wine sommelier’s ride into the retail world asmoother one.Call Us. We’re Here For You.THE ADVISOR MAGAZINE  | 6

O OU UT TD DO OO OR R D D II N N II N NG G C CO ON NT TR RO OV VE ER RS SY Y NORTH END BOSTON NEWS BY MICHELLE HANSFORD Major conflict sparked in the North End at the end of March when Boston Mayor Michelle Wu announced that North End restaurants would be charged a 7 500 fee to offer outdoor dining As restaurants and bars are still recovering from the pandemic this announcement triggered substantial controversy within the North End restaurant community especially as this neighborhood is the only place in Boston where this fee is being enforced The question for many restaurant owners is why Mayor Wu s response to the question was reported by WCVB THE ADVISOR MAGAZINE 7 Wu has repeatedly said the fee is because of the North End s unique challenges with outdoor dining including traffic and pedestrian access parking and trash pickup In comparison 70 of the North End s 77 outdoor dining spaces were on public property versus 21 of the South End s 51 outdoor dining spaces being on public property After a challenging two years of reduced capacity temporary closings and detrimental mandates for the Boston restaurant scene this new fee is yet another roadblock on the way to recovery for these struggling restaurants The community of North End restaurant owners has come together to support one another attempting to resist the fee and they are planning to sue the city of Boston as well as Mayor Wu if the fee is not revoked As North End restaurant owners unite perhaps other North End business owners can show their support as thriving neighboring restaurants help support their businesses as well

During the pandemic, cocktails to-go paired with restauranttakeout became extremely popular, and the trend is here forat least another year. Massachusetts, along with many otherstates, recently approved alcohol to-go for another year,beginning on May 1, 2022, and ending on April 1, 2023. However, work is being done on this new legislation to makethe approval permanent. Boston news leader, WCVB 5,stated, “Restaurants were hoping for the extensions as theycontinue to recover after two tough years. We really still needanother year of recovery to get back to normal levels," Gilardesaid. The Massachusetts Restaurant Association said the newlegislation could offer a window into the future as they nowwork to make the provisions permanent. "This gives us a yearto work on a process that involves communities," MRApresident Bob Luz said. "By extending it one year, it gives usthe time to work that out now." On average, alcoholic beverages make up 30 percent ofrestaurants’ total revenue. Since the pandemic started, it hasbeen reported that many bars and restaurants have beenincreasing their marketing tactics for adult beverages, inorder to boost their bottom line. If you haven’t already, now isthe time to publicize and promote your adult beverageselections, especially highlighting the option to buy cocktailsto-go, while the opportunity is there. THE ADVISOR MAGAZINE  | 8

MORE TOWNS BANNING NIPS QUINCY MAY BE NEXT Quincy may be the latest Massachusetts town to ban the sale of nips according to a March 31 Patriot Ledger report Mayor Thomas Koch has expressed interest in asking the city s licensing board to ban the sale of nips alcoholic beverages in containers 100 milliliters or less to control littering and waterway pollution as well as address other problems such as trash lined streets debris in storm drains and contaminating ocean water Koch also believes that nips make it more difficult for restaurants and other establishments to control underage drinking Koch has reportedly given this decision time as the pandemic has already hit many businesses hard Quincy would follow five other Massachusetts towns that have already banned nips Chelsea Mashpee Falmouth Wareham to go into effect 5 11 22 and Newton to go into effect 6 30 22 Also interesting to note is that a Rhode Island legislator has proposed a law that would ban nips statewide The question is Will some businesses be able to make up the revenue if nips and miniature bottles are removed Don t Have A Plan In Place For 2022 Give us a call to find out what your options are 781 319 9800 THE ADVISOR MAGAZINE 9

OUR FEATURED LISTINGS by Ben Jerrom Featured Listing Liquor License Advisor offers for your consideration information Norfolk County Full Alcohol Package Store regarding the sale of a Norfolk County liquor store that is Asking Price 750 000 conveniently located off of route 495 in a busy central shopping center This all alcoholic beverage store offers an expansive wine selection as well as beer liquor and tobacco products and it also has lottery The store has achieved high sales numbers in recent years and enjoys the abundance of grocery store customers that make this store part of their shopping trip as the grocery store is only 30 feet from this liquor store entrance The store offers a well organized large shopping space and customers are pleased to find ample parking within the shopping center lot making the store an easy stop while running errands within the plaza Specific opportunities for a new owner to drive revenue include offering online sales and delivery services as well as implementing an onsite owner to achieve even higher sales numbers Call Call For For Information Information Listing Type Location Asking Price Wine Malt Package Store Boston MA 150 000 Full Alcohol Package Store Plymouth County MA 550 000 Package Store License Wine Malt Westborough MA 85 000 Full Alcohol Package Store Plymouth County MA 550 000 Package Store License Wine Malt Somerville MA 159 000 Type 44 Plenary Retail Distribution License Teaneck NJ 180 000 Contact Ben Jerrom directly for further details on all of our current listings QUESTIONS ABOUT LISTINGS Call Text Ben Jerrom Partner Buyer Specialist Cell 413 544 4960 THE ADVISOR MAGAZINE 10

Did you know that for over 2 decades, our Founder, Dan Newcomb, hasbeen in the liquor license industry as the "go-to" for other industryprofessionals and leaders? Every phone call that comes into our office is about a liquor license. Wedon't work in any other industry besides liquor stores and licenses.We provide owners with a "firewall" to protect them from all of the pitfallswe know are out there throughout a transaction because we know how toprepare the deal and navigate the waters. We're here for you.Dan NewcombCEO & FounderBen JerromBuyer SpecialistJennifer MedicoTransaction SpecialistGlenn LawlerSeller SpecialistMichelle HansfordSeller ConciergeSherri BeauchampMarketing Specialist

References Why Sommeliers May Need A Liquor License A Post Pandemic Trend Page 4 1 April 11 2022 How Sommeliers Are Shifting into Wine Retail Ownership What longtime restaurant professionals should know before launching their own retail shops by Amy Zavatto of Daily Seven Fifty Outdoor Dining Controversy Page 7 1 April 9 2022 WCBV com article entitled City of Boston Extends Outdoor Dining Application Deadline for North End Restaurants by WCBV 2 March 26 2022 WCBV com article entitled North End restaurants say they will sue Mayor Michelle Wu Boston if outdoor dining fee stands by WCBV Cocktail To Go Hour Page 8 1 April 19 2022 RestaurantBusinessOnline com article entitled Restaurants Revitalize Bar Service to Spur Alcohol Sales by Patricia Cobe 2 April 1 2022 WCBV com article entitled Massachusetts to go cocktails approved through early 2023 by WCBV More Towns Banning Nips Quincy May Be Next Page 11 1 March 15 2022 A real issue Quincy could ban sales of nips to reduce litter ocean pollution by Mary Whitfill of The Patriot Ledger Special Contributions Acknowledgements Features Editor Editorial Assistant Michelle Hansford Magazine Digital Editor Sherri Beauchamp Liquor License Advisor 2022 All Rights Reserved Unless Otherwise Noted THE ADVISOR MAGAZINE 13

THE ADVISOR MAGAZINE BY LIQUOR LICENSE ADVISOR The Advisor Magazine runs on a monthly basis to keep stakeholders in the liquor store liquor license industry in the loop June 2022 Come back for Issue 16 which will reveal the current state of the industry how trends are shaping up leading into the Summer and more Liquor License Advisor Suite 1 2036 Ocean Street Marshfield MA 02050 781 319 9800 www LiquorLicenseAdvisor com