Boston Approves Liquor License Upgrades for Trident Bookstore and Life Time Gym

Trident Booksellers & Cafe and Life Time Club & Fitness Center in the Back Bay receive approval to expand alcohol offerings.

Published on Feb. 25, 2026

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The Boston Licensing Board has approved liquor license upgrades for two popular Back Bay businesses - Trident Booksellers & Cafe and Life Time Club & Fitness Center. Trident, an independent bookstore and cafe, will now be able to offer specialty cocktails and Bloody Marys, while the Life Time gym's private cafe and lounge will also be able to serve full liquor to members and guests.

Why it matters

The liquor license upgrades will allow these Back Bay businesses to enhance the overall customer experience and better cater to customer demand. For Trident, it opens up new revenue streams and the ability to host more community events, while Life Time's liquor license aligns with other locations and provides an amenity for gym members.

The details

Trident Booksellers & Cafe, a longstanding independent business on Newbury Street, received approval to upgrade its previous beer, wine, and cordials license to a full liquor license. This will allow Trident to offer specialty cocktails in its new private event space and during public/private events, as well as serve Bloody Marys during brunch. The cafe's daily hours will remain 8am to 10pm. Life Time Club & Fitness Center, a private gym at the Prudential Center, also received approval to upgrade its beer, wine, and cordials license to a full liquor license for its private second-floor cafe and lounge, which is open only to members and guests. The cafe's closing hours will remain 8pm on weekdays and 5pm on weekends.

  • On February 12, 2026, the Boston Licensing Board approved the liquor license upgrades for both Trident Booksellers & Cafe and Life Time Club & Fitness Center.
  • On January 5, 2026, the Neighborhood Association of the Back Bay (NABB) Licensing and Building Use Committee held a virtual meeting where the liquor license upgrade proposals were discussed.

The players

Trident Booksellers & Cafe

An independent bookstore and cafe located on Newbury Street in Boston's Back Bay neighborhood.

Life Time Club & Fitness Center

A private gym located at the Prudential Center in Boston's Back Bay, part of the Minnesota-based Life Time brand.

Michael Lemanski

The general manager of Trident Booksellers & Cafe.

Kimberly Flynn

The director at Trident Booksellers & Cafe.

Helen Loc

The cafe leader for Life Time at the Prudential Center.

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What they’re saying

“This is a big step for us, and we really appreciate the opportunity the City of Boston is giving us with an upgrade to an all-alcohol license. It will help us keep the Trident vibrant, support our community events, and continue creating the kind of welcoming gathering space Boston really needs.”

— Kimberly Flynn, director at Trident Booksellers & Cafe (beaconhilltimes.com)

“We'll have simple, well-made classic cocktails, featured brunch cocktails, plus some cheeky literary-inspired drinks that feel very Trident. We're excited because it opens the door to some really fun additions to our menu and will enhance the overall guest experience.”

— Kimberly Flynn, director at Trident Booksellers & Cafe (beaconhilltimes.com)

“There is a strong demand for a liquor license at the cafe since it first opened.”

— Helen Loc, cafe leader for Life Time at the Prudential Center (beaconhilltimes.com)

What’s next

Both Trident Booksellers & Cafe and Life Time Club & Fitness Center must now receive approval from the state's Alcoholic Beverages Control Commission (ABCC) before their respective liquor license upgrades can take effect.

The takeaway

The liquor license upgrades for these Back Bay businesses demonstrate the evolving needs and preferences of customers, as well as the ability of local establishments to adapt and enhance the overall experience they provide. This reflects the resilience and adaptability of Boston's small business community.