City closes business over lack of license

Published 9:00 am Thursday, August 10, 2017

A Winchester business has been shut down after operating without a business license.

According to Winchester Licensing Board chair Roy Hudson, Plowshares Trading Post had been operating without a 2016 or 2017 business license and had received several letters requesting its owners pay their license fees.

The business, located at the corner of Washington and Highland streets, was also operating without an appropriate ramp to make the building handicap accessible.

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After receiving warnings about the lack of accessibility, the property owner eventually built a ramp.

According to Hudson the ramp they built did not meet the standards of the Americans with Disabilities Act.

“I hear they’re talking about moving,” Hudson said. “But as long as they’re thinking about moving we need to shut them up.”

Alice Malendez, the former owner of Plowshares who has since moved out of town, said she is focusing on a new business venture, and she sold the inventory to Winchester resident Perry Welch.

Welch said he is considering reopening the store with a license in his name, but he is still looking into what work needs to be done to bring the business up to code.