Licensing board approves transfer of Fernandez Brothers Liquors; application to go to ABCC

The Lawrence Licensing Board on Tuesday approved a request to transfer the all-alcohol license for Fernandez Brothers Liquors at 128 Newbury Street to Hara LLC and approved pledges of the license and inventory to Salem Five Bank. The board voted to send the application on to the Massachusetts Alcoholic Beverages Control Commission for final approval.

The purchasers are represented by attorney Sydney Progos, who told the board the buyers are experienced retailers and that the sale would involve “internal changes” only. “We are requesting a transfer of license and a pledge of license and pledge of inventory,” Progos said, and identified Dharmesh Dave as a principal and Harsh Patel as the proposed license manager.

The transfer packet includes a financing arrangement and the applicants said they will maintain the current hours, location and business operations; Progos said the new manager was signed up for alcohol awareness certification. The board discussed that the business must remain open under the existing operation while the ABCC reviews the paperwork.

Board members and city staff asked only clarifying questions; Lieutenant Olivieri and Lieutenant Frias raised no objections. Commissioner Morales moved to approve the local transfer, and the motion was seconded and passed. The clerk said the board would forward the approved local action to the ABCC.

The approval covered three local actions the applicants requested: the license transfer, a pledge of the license and a pledge of inventory. Final legal authority for the license transfer resides with the Massachusetts Alcoholic Beverages Control Commission; the board’s vote documents local assent and forwards the application for state review.