The final approval necessary to bring Two Buck Chuck and other alcoholic beverages into the Trader Joe’s in West Windsor has been granted.
The Township Council voted on April 19 to award a $750,000 plenary retail liquor distribution license to the store, five months after it confirmed it as being a pre-qualified bidder.
Last November, the council accepted the store’s bid of $750,000 toward the liquor license and awarded it a liquor license. Although the license was awarded, there was still a process that had to be completed before liquor could be sold in the store, which included the township’s police department conducting background checks and fingerprints for anyone who is a stakeholder in the venture.
Once the background check was completed, township officials needed to contact the Board of Alcoholic Beverages. Then, the license was created. A person-to-person transfer was conducted because the township initiated the license and still owned the license until it was given to the store.
Now the new store in the Lowe’s retail center on Route 1 North will be able to sell alcohol, including its very popular wine, nicknamed “Two Buck Chuck.” The actual price runs between $1.99 and $3.49 per bottle, depending on the region.
According to the resolution most recently approved, “the West Windsor Police Division has reviewed the application and the various documents received.” The resolution also stated that the application form was deemed complete in all aspects, that Trader Joe’s was found to be qualified to be licensed, and has worked out the funding details.
The township was able to make another distribution license available as a result of a census survey conducted by Mac Acquisition before it was awarded a $700,000 liquor license in September. Mac Acquisition owns Macaroni Grill and On the Border.
The census survey showed enough residential growth to make available another liquor distribution license. For every 3,000-person increase in population, the township can offer another consumption license. For every 7,500-person increase, it can offer another consumption or distribution license.
Trader Joe’s new liquor license in West Windsor is its second in the state — the maximum allowed to be held by an organization under state law. The other license is held in the store’s Westfield location.
