Heirloom seeking liquor license, dinner hours

With plans to open for weekend dinner hours, the owners of Heirloom, the popular cafe and restaurant in downtown Weston, are seeking a liquor license.

Nadia Liu Spellman and Kyle Spellman, Weston natives who co-founded the restaurant at 31 Center St., submitted a citizen’s petition ahead of the May 4 Annual Town Meeting that, if approved, will ask the State Legislature to grant the town an additional liquor license.

The restaurateurs, who also own neighboring Dumpling Daughter, said they “love to serve the town” and envision dinner hours, which would run from Thursday through Sunday, as an opportunity to provide more offerings for Weston residents.

“One of the best parts of Heirloom is it provides a place for the community,” Liu Spellman said at the March 12 Finance Committee meeting. “We would love to provide the amenity of having dinner; parents can have a glass of wine, kids can have kids’ menus.”

While Dumpling Daughter has a “BYOB” model, Liu Spellman said folks don’t really take advantage of it.

Spellman added most people have to travel to Waltham or another community if they want to go out for a family dinner.

“Why not have something in Weston, where we grew up?” Spellman said. “We really think we can provide something that the community will love, that will be a value-add.”

Beyond offering more dining options for residents, a liquor license would provide some financial benefits for Weston. Town Manager Leon Gaumond said a liquor license carries a $5,000 license fee and the restaurant could generate between $3,700 and $4,500 a month in additional sales tax revenue.

A liquor license at Heirloom would be a notable milestone for Weston, as the town’s restaurants have historically been dry since Prohibition.

If Town Meeting approves the petition and the Select Board ultimately grants the license, it would double the number of public liquor licenses in the town, as The Woods, which currently holds the sole license, will serve alcohol at the Josiah Smith Tavern when it opens.

The Woods, which is targeting a fall 2026 opening, was on the mind of Finance Committee members, too.

“I’m all in favor of trying to revitalize the town center,” Jon Harris said. “How will you complement the service that is going to go on there?”

Liu Spellman and Spellman said Heirloom will offer a “limited menu that is kid-friendly” that is likely to have a “different price point.”

Boston Urban Hospitality is behind The Woods, and the company operates several Boston restaurants, including the upscale Deuxave in Back Bay. It also previously owned Boston Chops Steakhouse.

“I think the Woods is going to have tons of steak and fish and heavy proteins. We’re going to go a different direction, and have a kids’ menu, too,” Liu Spellman said, noting she believes Heirloom will apply to have a closing hour of 10 p.m. “I think the Heirloom space is really cozy and inviting. The fireplace on the wall is really an ambiance that would really complement well to a glass of wine or a martini.”

The Finance Committee unanimously recommended the citizen’s petition.

“I think this is a nice way to diversify the revenue streams of the town,” Maija Cirulis-Gooch said, “and do great stuff for the town center, as well.”