Sunflower Shanty at Houlden Farm may shutter after ABCC ruling

The ABCC put the kibosh on Houlden Farms’ Sunflower Shanty this week, ruling that the Select Board improperly authorized special beer and wine licenses, likely ending the beer garden’s tenure when the already-issued licenses run out in July.

“I wish we knew about this back in the winter when we talked about the licenses,” Trevor Houlden told the Select Board Tuesday night.

It’s a relatively quiet end to a successful accessory business for the Houlden family, which opened the Sunflower Shanty last summer, offering beer and wine alongside music from local acts on weekends. But alongside happy guests and expanded hours this spring came noise complaints from the residential neighborhoods that surround the longtime family farm.

One of those residents filed the license complaint with the state Alcoholic Beverages Control Commission, which fielded similar complaints last year when several Boston beer gardens continuously requested 30-day special licenses with different managers. As a result, the ABCC cracked down on such licenses.

“We can’t give you any more licenses.. our hands are tied,” Select Board member Ray Mead said. Mead did suggest that the farm cut back plans to have music on Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays for the remainder of the month so the licenses could be spread into July.

“We can see how it’s sort of unfolding… I just want to know the actual law on one day beer and wine licenses,” Houlden said. “I know I should be up-to-date with the laws and all that.”

Town Administrator Evan Brassard suggested to Houlden that he should seek out an attorney with experience with the ABCC.

The town is not liable for the licensing error but future such licenses would be an issue.

“As much as we want to support your business — we all do…we have to put the town business first,” Select Board member Mat Often said.

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