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BOSTON (WBZ NewsRadio) — The City of Boston Licensing Board approved 13 new liquor licenses on Friday and allowed some other businesses to ‘upgrade’ their stock.
Back in September 2025, the legislation was introduced by Mayor Michelle Wu and later approved by the Boston City Council, which gave municipalities across the state the opportunity for proprietors allowed to sell wine and malt beverages to trade in their licenses for a non-transferable all-alcoholic beverages license.
The 13 applicants approved were the first to take advantage of the changes after the State Legislature allowed them as part of the Fiscal Year 2026 Massachusetts State Budget.
The approved businesses on Friday included Agosto and Baby Sister, Bey, Nan Xiang Express, and Perch in the South End; 355 Bennington Holdings, Italian Express, and Pomona Café III in East Boston; Behan Caffe, Ethiopian Cafe, Third Cliff Bakery, and Ula Cafe in Jamaica Plain; Safari African Restaurant in Roslindale; and Maria’s Kitchen in West Roxbury.
Several businesses in Brighton, Downtown Boston, the Theatre District, and the North End have also been approved, and the City is encouraging those interested in upgrading their licenses to get started as soon as possible.
WBZ NewsRadio’s Charlie Bergeron (@CharlieBergeron) reports.