Business
An employee at the liquor store confirmed it will close in mid-to-late October, about two months after a person first shared the owner’s email online announcing the closure.
Blanchard’s on Harvard Avenue in Allston is closing for good. An employee confirmed the news on Wednesday as signs were posted in its windows, reading: “Fall 2026, Store Closing, All Inventory Discounted.”
The 8,000-square-foot liquor store does not yet have a final day of operation, but the employee said it is expected to close by mid-to-late October. The closure comes after years of declining sales and recent departures from management.
“It is with great sadness that we share that we have made the difficult decision to permanently close our store later this year,” owner Chris Corey wrote to staff members in an email two months ago that was posted to a now-deleted Reddit thread.
“This business has been a part of my family since 1954, making this an incredibly hard decision. We are deeply grateful for the dedication and hard work of every member of our team over the years,” the letter continued.
The closure comes as Allston continues to lose some of its longtime businesses and landmarks. First, it was the closure of Great Scott. Then, it was Twin Donuts. More recently, several of the small businesses that line Harvard Avenue have closed or are expected to close.
It remains unclear what will happen to Blanchard’s iconic neon sign or whether the Allston location will have a new owner.
A Boston Licensing Board hearing Wednesday, however, shed some light on what could happen to another Blanchard’s location. Kappy’s Liquor and Fine Wine is seeking to take over the Blanchard’s store at 418 Lagrange St. in West Roxbury.
The store would continue to operate as a liquor store and keep the same manager, according to information presented at the hearing.
It is unclear what will happen to Blanchard’s other locations in Brockton, Jamaica Plain, Marshfield, and Revere.
According to Blanchard’s website, the company was first established in 1838. Its first store was located in Scollay Square in Downtown Boston, where City Hall now stands.
John Corey purchased the company in 1938 and grew it from a single retail location into a chain of stores.
The six remaining Blanchard’s stores are owned and operated by the Corey family, now in its third generation.
The Allston location opened in 1954. It is the company’s flagship store.
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