Photo: Carl Stevens
CAMBRIDGE, Mass. (WBZ NewsRadio) — It looks and feels like a liquor store, but Dray in Cambridge’s Central Square is a bottle shop sans alcohol.
“It’s intended to look exactly like a high-end liquor store or wine shop, just one key difference — that everything’s non-alcoholic,” said Pat Dooling, Dray’s owner and founder.
The store had its grand opening in Central Square on Tuesday, after successfully opening a shop in Boston’s South End in 2023.
Dooling said he was inspired to open the store after his personal journey with sobriety.
“I don't come from the consumer retail world or anything like that. I do think it's a great business, but honestly it came from my decision to quit drinking about 3 years ago,” Dooling said.
WBZ NewsRadio caught up with Dooling last October, when he was planning the Central Square store.
“We felt like Cambridge is a perfect second location”, Dooling said.
Turns out he was right. Customers at the grand opening thought the store is a great idea for a myriad of reasons.
“How I feel about [alcohol] is very about the ritual of it, and it's not actually about wanting the alcohol,” said one customer. “It’s kind of a nice alternative, especially on a weeknight, or if you’re gonna go on a run the next morning.”
Others felt the same, especially for those that say alcohol doesn’t always agree with them.
“I actually have a pretty sensitive stomach,” said another customer. “So I’m really excited to have the alternative where you can still be social and engage with your friends, but it's a little easier on your system.”
WBZ’s Carl Stevens (@CarlWBZ) reports.