The former site of the Borders book store in Wareham Crossing may become the new site of a wine and beer super store.

The Board of Selectmen Tuesday unanimously approved the transfer of a liquor license from Capeway Package Store owner Anthony Jeffrey to Thorpe Dora, who is slated to manage the Cranberry Highway location of Wines & More in the former Borders location.

Jeffrey sold the company his liquor license and the alcoholic contents of his Cranberry Highway-based store, John Haronian, president of Wine & Spirits Retail Consultants Inc. explained Tuesday during a public hearing regarding the license transfer.

After the meeting, Haronian noted the transfer needs to be finalized by the state Alcoholic Beverages Control Commission before construction begins. Haronian said he hopes to see the store fully operational within six months.

“The philosophy is: Service, selection, and education,” he said.

The large-scale alcoholic beverage retailer will offer more than 3,000 types of wine and thousands of varieties of craft beers and sprits. Additionally, the store will have an “academy,” where trained staff members will teach educational classes, providing tidbits on selection and proper pairings of beer and wine.

Haronian said the 25,000-square-foot building is ideal for the super store and will be an excellent fit for Wareham Crossing.

“It is the type of store that goes in a big-box location,” he said.

The Board of Selectmen agreed.

“This is a great addition to the Wareham Crossing plaza,” Selectman Cara Winslow stated. “I’m glad to see... the space works for someone,” she added, noting the unique size and layout of the space.

However, not everyone shared the Selectmen’s enthusiasm for the store. Resident Nancy Cederholm voiced concern the super store would detract from locally-owned alcoholic beverages stores.

“It is a legitimate concern,” Winslow said, but pointed out that Wines & More’s specialty selections would cater to a different customer. “People wouldn’t drive 20 or 30 minutes for something they can get down the street.”

The transfer was approved by the board with little discussion.

“We’re happy you chose Wareham,” Board of Selectmen chair Walter Cruz concluded.

Haronian said Wine & More is franchising to a secondary company, ACAP, which leased the Wareham Crossing location for the next ten years.

A representative from mall owner WS Development,could not immediately be reached for comment regarding the new store.

The retail space became available after former renter Borders Group Inc. filed for bankruptcy on February 16.

In other town business:

The town has received at least 26 applications for the vacant local building inspector position. The position became open after July 15 following the resignation of part-time building inspector Andrew Williams.

The application deadline closed last week. Town Administrator Mark Andrews said he assembled a team consisting of Selectmen Walter Cruz and Steve Holmes, Director of Inspectional Services Myles Burke, and Director of Assessment Elsa Miller to review the applications.

After Tuesday’s meeting, Andrews said he would hire a local inspector after the team narrows down the candidates to three applicants. Andrews said he is hoping hire in two weeks.

In the midterm, Paul Waken will serve as an alternate building inspector.