CHICOPEE, Mass. (WGGB/WSHM) – With Cinco de Mayo coming up this weekend, local restaurants are getting started with the now-permanent cocktails-to-go initiative here in the bay state.
After it was temporary to help businesses during the pandemic, the cocktails to go option is back in Western Massachusetts and that’s making restaurants like Frontera Grill and it’s customers excited, especially with the holiday weekend in full swing.
Live music and energy could be heard and seen inside and outside of Frontera Grill, kicked off the weekend-long celebration commemorating Mexico’s victory over France in the battle of Puebla on May 5, 1862. Otherwise known as Cinco de Mayo that also includes enjoying some fine Mexican cuisine and maybe some good cocktails.
“I will actually like mango margaritas,” said Alexander Rodriguez of Holyoke. “They go really well.”
“I really like martinis, espresso martinis, lemon drops, specialty martinis,” added Christine Strauss of Wilbraham.
Unless you have the right mixes at home, you’d normally have those kinds of drinks at bars and restaurants until now. As of this weekend, you can order up to 64 ounces of cocktails to go with the purchase of a meal. Something Frontera Grill’s owner, Federico Mendiola, is excited about.
“It brings a lot of revenue for the state, for communities, and I think, overall, it’s good for people because now we know how to do it the legal way and the responsible way with sealed bottles,” explained Mendiola. “And a lot of people now, they feel like it’s a new normal.”
This measure was temporary in the bay state beginning in 2020 when the pandemic was in its full force, allowing restaurants to get some revenue until it expired early last month. On Thursday, though, cocktails to go became permanent after governor Maura Healey signed a supplemental budget bill.
Alexander Rodriguez, a patron from Holyoke, told Western Mass News he took advantage of the measure back then to order his mango margaritas, and thinks this will be beneficial for everyone in the long run.
“People will actually get more advantage of the alcoholic beverages and also for the customers,” noted Rodriguez. “And, the businesses will make their money. It helps out actually.”
Christine Strauss of Wilbraham agrees and also said this is good timing before the main holiday.
“Perfect! Perfect! Muy bien!” expressed Strauss.
After strong business for the holiday last year, Mendiola said this will provide a boost this time around.
“I think they saw the numbers that they think were positive,” added Mendiola. “So now, they let us do it because they know we can do it in a responsible way.”
Now a couple of key notes here. Unlike during the pandemic, restaurants can no longer sell wine and beer for consumption off-premise that was actually the compromise made to have this fixture in the bill.
Other than that, the cocktails to go, again, can only be ordered with the purchase of a meal. They also have to be in a sealed bottle and transported in a vehicle’s trunk or, according to the legislation, a part of the vehicle “that is not considered the passenger area.”
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