We, the undersigned, support and welcome Total Wine & More to Dorchester’s South Bay Center (8 Allstate Road Boston, MA 02118) and the positive local impact we know this store will have in our community.

Good Jobs, Career Opportunities

With each store, Total Wine & More recruits and hires 50-75 employees who are from, and live in, the local community. Because Total Wine & More desires to have its employees embark on a career with them, company policy is that 75% of the employees hired are full-time with good wages and outstanding benefits (health and dental insurance, a 401(k), paid time off, and more). In addition to the employees hired to operate the store, the construction needed to build out the existing space will be built with local union labor, ensuring good jobs and quality products.

Direct Support for Local Charities

Total Wine & More has a proven track record of success with six well-received stores in Massachusetts – Natick, Everett, Shrewsbury, Danvers, Burlington and Braintree. Just since 2015, these stores have made over $3 million in donations directly to more than 2,000 Massachusetts-based nonprofits and have helped them raise more than $18 million for their good causes.

Community Support

Total Wine & More stores support LOCAL beer, cider, wine and spirits by stocking its shelves with Massachusetts products and inviting Massachusetts producers to conduct tastings and promote their work. The South Bay store is committed to featuring and promoting products from over 200 local and regional winemakers, brewers and distillers.

Underage Drinking & Intoxicated Customers

Total Wine & More takes strict measures to ensure alcohol is not sold to minors in their stores. No one under 21 is allowed in the stores unless accompanied by parent or guardian. The company provides extensive training and financial incentives for employees to check ID. Last year, Total Wine stores paid out bonuses of more than $1 Million to its team members for checking ID. Similarly, they have a clear policy and procedure to defuse a situation with any customers in their stores exhibiting signs of intoxication or impairment.

A Vacant Storefront near Mass & Cass

We all are aware of the heartbreaking situation that has unfolded at Mass & Cass. The proposed location for this store is currently a vacant space, which presents obvious safety concerns. The addition of a highly-reputable retailer bringing its well-lit, closely monitored, award-winning store, with a commitment to local engagement, will only serve to help stabilize a troubled and ignored public safety crisis nearby.

More Safety Measures

No nips, quarter pints and 40oz.bottles of malt liquor! And as advised by Boston Police, the restrooms are in the back of the store and entrance/exit is limited to one single spot. Total Wine & More has committed to significant investments in technology to make the area safe – like nearly 40 state-of-the-art in-store and outside security cameras and close coordination with law enforcement.

Nothing Like It

Total Wine & More brings a completely unique retail operation to the area. Choices for purchasing alcohol in the area – such as at the former store within Stop & Shop or nearby local stores – offer nothing close to the experience that a customer has when visiting a Total Wine & More store.

• The South Bay Center location will feature dedicated tasting areas and meeting spaces for community interaction and education.
• Total Wine & More places a premium on having its team members provide outstanding service to its customer. Its employees are among the most knowledgeable in the retail alcohol industry. New team members go through 100+ hours of training and education on wine, beer and spirits before even getting onto the store floor. This is supplemented by ongoing weekly, monthly, quarterly and annual education.
• Unlike other local retailers, Total Wine uses the classrooms that they build in every one of their stores to host consumer classes on wine, beer and spirits and special events featuring local, regional, national and international winemakers, brewers and distillers.

The addition of Total Wine & More will bring much-needed local benefit, from competition to philanthropy to good jobs.

We encourage the City of Boston Licensing Board and our local elected officials to listen to all residents. Total Wine & More would be a welcome addition to Dorchester and South Boston.