Chocolate Therapy Wants to Host Chocolate & Wine Events

Chocolate Therapy, a small business that produces high-end homemade chocolates, went before Framingham Selectmen this week seeking a wine license.

Owners Pam and David Griffin said they would like to host special events where they would pair their specialty chocolates with red and white wine. They would host small, private events in one of the party rooms with a set menu, said Pam Griffin.

"Nothing goes better with chocolate than wine," said Pam Griffin.

Selectmen, in a split vote, agreed to grant the license, pending review and approval by town counsel and the state's alcohol board. Selectmen Michael Bower, Dennis Giombetti and Charlie Sistisky voted in favor. Selectmen Laurie Lee was opposed. Selectmen Jason Smith was not at the meeting.

The husband and wife team, who live in Framingham, opened their first Chocolate Therapy location in 2011 in Dedham. The Framingham business opened in Dec. 2012 at 60 Worcester Road.

Pam said the store sells a range of handmade chocolates including sea salted caramels, earl grey dark chocolates, and a truffle called the The Cure, which features dark chocolate made with bay leaf, cinnamon and cayenne pepper.

The business recently started holding chocolate-making classes.

The Framingham location has a couple of private rooms for children's parties and the couple wanted to expand and offer adult nights out, in which they would highlight wine pairings to go with their specialty chocolates.

Pam Griffin told Selectmen she was certified in alcohol server training and the store's chocolatier is certified in another town and would be certified in Framingham, too. Griffin said they would be the only two employees who would serve glasses of wine at the special events.

Wine would only be offered at the special events, stressed Pam Griffin. Her husband said they had no plans to use the malt part of the license.

Selectmen had several concerns during Tuesday night's public hearing.

Lee said she was uncomfortable granting a full license to the applicants.

The Griffins requested a malt & wine restaurant license, the only license that fit what they wanted to do.

The only other option was for them to apply for a one-day malt & wine license each time they wanted to hold a special event. They could apply for that type of license up to 30 times a year, but each application requires a public hearing before Framingham Selectmen.

Lee said she was troubled the applicants did not know the town's alcohol policy.

For example, the applicants had expressed an interest in a cordials license, which Framingham Selectmen never accepted as part of the town's alcohol policy.

Lee also said she had concerns the license the applicants requested did far more than what the applicants told Selectmen they planned to do at their business. Under the granting of the malt & wine license, they could serve a glass of wine or beer during normal operating hours and not just at private, special events.

"This is the one (license) that most clearly fits their business plan," said Sistisky. "They don't want to use the full license. They just want to use part of the license."

He further added that restaurants in town do that all the time. That the license allows them to serve for a certain amount of time and some restaurants choose to serve less than they can under the license.

Giombetti wasn't sure if the town could grant the malt & wine license as requested and suggested the license be granted, on the condition that town counsel review and see if this would be within the town's alcohol policy.

The motion was made and the vote was 3-1 to grant the license, contingent on counsel's review and approval.

Bower suggested the applicants re-review the policy while the town's legal counsel was doing its review.

MetroWest Chamber of Commerce CEO and President Bonnie Biocchi said Wednesday night, if the license is granted the chamber's new Women's Fun Federation (WFF) would like to book a wine & chocolate private party.