By Susan Ovans

The Hull Board of Selectmen transferred the license to sell alcoholic beverages to the prospective new owner of Riddle’s Supermarket Thursday evening. The vote allows current owners Michelle and Michael Sears to move forward with the sale of the town’s only full-service supermarket.

The couple told the board they will permanently close the store Saturday in preparation for the Nov. 16 sale to James McInnis, of EAM Market, Inc., dba The Village Market.

McInnis currently owns two Village Market stores, one in Roslindale, the other in Scituate.

He said Riddle’s will become the third Village Market after he stocks and reopens the store, which he anticipates will take place in early December.

Selectmen Chairman Kevin Richardson told McInnis that the town is “excited to have you here” and said he believes the new store would be successful, as Riddle’s “loyal following” had demonstrated a “definite demand” for a Hull supermarket.

Richardson also thanked the Searses for serving the town well through the years.

Selectwoman Jennifer Constable urged McInnis to rehire Riddle’s employee base, many of whom had given the store long years of service and tried to stay on during the year’s decline.

McInnis said he’d put a hiring sign in Riddle’s window and would be accepting employment applications once the sale was completed next week.