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Buy you a drink? Boston may score 225 liquor licenses – The Boston Globe

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Buy you a drink? Boston may score 225 liquor licenses – The Boston Globe


Massachusetts is on the verge of enacting a landmark overhaul of its liquor laws, which will significantly reshape Boston’s cultural and economic landscape. The legislation, which introduces 225 additional liquor licenses in the city, goes beyond a mere regulatory update — it is a powerful advancement in equity, with substantial implications for social justice, economic opportunity, and cultural enrichment.

Spearheaded by Senator Liz Miranda of Roxbury and Representative Christopher Worrell of Dorchester, the bill would expand access to liquor licenses and stimulate growth in Boston’s dynamic hospitality sector. It would create a limited number of new, nontransferable liquor licenses for specific ZIP codes in Boston. This legislation would increase opportunities for business owners and aspiring restaurateurs to contribute to the economic and cultural vitality of neighborhoods that have historically faced disinvestment and gentrification.

Without these new licenses, often the only path to obtaining a liquor license is to purchase one from a current license holder, with a reported price tag of up to $600,000. For many entrepreneurs of color, this is an insurmountable hurdle to launching their hospitality ventures.

For Boston’s Black communities, this legislation is particularly significant. Historically, systemic barriers and high costs have prevented Black entrepreneurs from entering and thriving in the city’s hospitality sector. Alcohol sales are twice as profitable as food sales, and 80 percent of restaurant concepts are not profitable without alcohol sales. However, according to the Boston Black Hospitality Coalition, less than 2 percent of Boston liquor licenses are held by operators who identify as Black — even though 22 percent of Boston residents are Black.

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The anticipated increase in Black-owned restaurants and bars promises to enrich Boston’s cultural fabric, notably in Dorchester, East Boston, Hyde Park, Mattapan, and Roxbury. This influx of new businesses is expected to create job opportunities within the community, driving economic growth and fostering a renewed sense of ownership and pride. Moreover, the potential for increased investment in Black neighborhoods could catalyze broader economic revitalization and enhance social cohesion.

The bill would also contribute to the creation of “third spaces” — vital community hubs where people can gather, connect, affirm, and sustain their cultural heritage. By enabling more diverse ownership of hospitality venues, the new licenses would support the cultivation of these vibrant social and cultural gathering points, particularly in neighborhoods, like Nubian Square, that are undergoing development but lacking destinations for community connection.

Boston’s cultural landscape is set to benefit considerably from this paradigm shift. These new licenses would help nurture vibrant community ecosystems where creativity and innovation can thrive. A more varied array of liquor licenses would lead to a dynamic hospitality scene that reflects the city’s diverse population. New establishments will bring fresh perspectives, excitement, and creative energy to Boston’s neighborhoods, enhancing the city’s reputation as a cultural hub.

The reform also addresses the pressing issue of retention and attraction of talent in the city and across Massachusetts by supporting the growth of Black-owned businesses and generating new job opportunities. Small, diverse businesses are more likely to contribute to the local economy by hiring workers in the neighborhood. This promotes both economic development and strengthens Boston’s competitive edge in an evolving job market.

We applaud the Legislature for coming to an agreement and look forward to the bill being sent to and signed by Governor Maura Healey. This overdue reform will reflect the city’s diverse and dynamic communities.

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Nicole Obi is president and CEO of the Black Economic Council of Massachusetts. Imari Paris Jeffries is president and CEO of Embrace Boston.





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Boston, MA

Bruins Close Homestand with 6-2 Loss to Canadiens | Boston Bruins

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Bruins Close Homestand with 6-2 Loss to Canadiens | Boston Bruins


BOSTON –– Despite a fiery start, the Boston Bruins lost their footing in the third period and ultimately fell 6-2 to the Montreal Canadiens on Tuesday at TD Garden.

“Even after the first period, guys came ready to play today. They were very excited, so it was good,” head coach Marco Sturm said. “But the goals we gave up – for me, it’s a lot of individual mistakes, fatigue. Guys were just mentally not sharp.”

​Sammy Blais put the Canadiens ahead 1-0 at 11:08 of the first period, but the Bruins soon earned the lead.

Mason Lohrei kept the puck in the zone and carried it down the left side before hitting Marat Khusnutdinov with a cross-crease pass, which he one-timed past Montreal netminder Jacob Fowler at 12:25. Khusnutdinov’s fifth goal of the year made it 1-1 and extended his point streak to three games.

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Alex Steeves potted a last-minute tally for the 2-1 lift while on the power play. David Pastrnak dished the puck over to Steeves in the right circle, where he sniped it home at 19:42. It was Steeves’ eighth goal of the season, and first PPG of his NHL career. The loss overshadowed that for the forward, though.

“It’s terrible, it stinks. Really, this whole homestand, going into break, it’s unfortunate,” Steeves said. “But I think it’s moments like these where you find out how tight the group is. I know we have a tight group, and I know we’ll bounce back from this and we’ll be stronger because of it. Stings for now.”

Viktor Arvidsson – who played in his first game since Dec. 11 after working through a lower-body injury – picked up the secondary assist on the scoring play. The forward was back on the second line with Casey Mittelstadt and Pavel Zacha.

“It was nice to be back and skating again and battling and stuff and be on the bench,” Arvidsson said. “Be with the guys. It felt good.”

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Woman dies after medical episode at Boston nightclub, family says – The Boston Globe

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Woman dies after medical episode at Boston nightclub, family says – The Boston Globe


The club, in a statement posted on Instagram on Tuesday, said it was “deeply saddened” by Colon’s death and that employees at the nightclub rushed to her aid.

“Our staff responded immediately and called emergency services while an off-duty EMT rendered first aid,” it said. “We are cooperating fully with all inquiries from law enforcement and city officials who are reviewing this medical episode.”

When police arrived at the Warrenton Street venue, they found a person lying on the dance floor, unresponsive and without a pulse, according to an incident report. They began performing chest compressions with the help of a cashier at the club who said she worked as an EMT.

Police said in the report that the large crowd inside the club did not comply with orders to give space to emergency medical personnel. Eventually, officers ordered the club to shut down and told patrons to leave immediately.

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The woman, whose age was not disclosed, was then taken to Tufts Medical Center, police said.

Colon’s sister, Angelica Colon, wrote on social media Sunday that the club failed to immediately call 911 after being told about the medical emergency. She said only a few people at the club showed any “real concern,” while other patrons and staff “acted like nothing was happening.”

“My sister collapsed in the middle of the club,“ she wrote. ”I tried to lift her myself and couldn’t. I was screaming at the top of my lungs and was ignored. The music was only stopped for two minutes, then turned right back on — as if her life didn’t matter.”

Angelica Colon also couldn’t be reached for comment on Tuesday.

Anastaiya Colon, who was at the club to celebrate her sister Angelica’s birthday, had smoked before arriving and had “a few drinks” at the bar, according to the police report. Drug use was not suspected as a factor in the medical episode, according to the report.

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Angelica Colon said that, while her sister had a medical condition, “that does not excuse what happened.” She said in the post that she was considering legal action against the club’s owners.

“A business that refuses to act during a medical emergency does not deserve to operate,” she wrote. “If this could happen to my sister, it could happen to anyone.”

“She was the greatest mother to our son and her daughter,” Stackhouse wrote. “Wherever I fell, she compensated and gave me so much more grace than I deserve.”

Icon is operated by Pasha Entertainment, which also runs the nightclubs Venu and Hava, as well as prominent restaurants such as Ghost Light Tavern and Kava Neo-Taverna, according to the company’s website.

“Our thoughts and condolences are with the individual’s family and loved ones,” the club wrote.

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Last year, the city’ licensing board reviewed a 2023 incident at the club in which a woman was punched and thrown to the ground by another patron. Icon staff did not call police during the altercation, which the club’s director of security admitted was a “lapse in judgment.”

The woman who was punched later sued the club for overserving her attacker; Icon was ordered to pay $30,000 in damages, according to court records.


Camilo Fonseca can be reached at camilo.fonseca@globe.com. Follow him on X @fonseca_esq and on Instagram @camilo_fonseca.reports.





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Green Line back open after closure to replace 1800s beams – Boston News, Weather, Sports | WHDH 7News

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Green Line back open after closure to replace 1800s beams – Boston News, Weather, Sports | WHDH 7News


BOSTON (WHDH) – Getting around the city was made easier Tuesday after the Green Line reopened after a two-week shutdown affecting all branches.

The MBTA needed the closure to replace underground beams dating back to the 19th century.

Service returned Tuesday on the B branch between North Station and Babcock, on the C and D lines from North Station to Kenmore, and North Station to Heath Street on the E branch.

(Copyright (c) 2025 Sunbeam Television. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.)

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