Anyone ever own/operate a liquor store?

Have I lost my mind?

Considering opening a liquor store. Highway frontage with heavy traffic entering a tourist town...a tourist town where you can't buy liquor except by the drink - (the local bar charges TEN FREAKIN DOLLARS for a vodka-tonic.)

Closest competition would be about 15 minutes south on the wrong side of the highway at a very dangerous intersection, and from talking to my buds who work there, they do a helluva business.

My main concerns would be much longer hours, drunks, and I'm guessing a HUGE startup cost, (would be funded in part by sale of current business - and I also have a couple private investors interested already) and what I am told are very small margins (my biggest concern that I can't seem to get a straight answer on.)

Only other concern is that the location I'm looking at (BIG commercial strip-mall type space that was built new about 5 years ago, and has sat empty ever since) is about 7 minutes south of the county line...soooo, if someone wanted to be a royal dick, they could build something north of me. Not necessarily a bad thing, as I'd be the first liquor store on the right side of the highway that doesn't require getting off at an exit for literally hundreds of miles, but it is a concern.

We have a lot of wealthy Atlanta types coming up every weekend, which I will use as an excuse (as a beer snob) to stock a big variety of craft beers.

What say yee?

Are liquor stores more popular to rob than convenience stores?

Dang! That reminds me. I'm out of Triple Sec.

@pinchy: I dunno, but we have insanely low crime up here. Plus, the "out of towners" seem to get the concept that Billy Bob will blow your berkeleying head off and is likely related to - or at least goes hunting/fishing with the Sheriff. Biggest complaint from the guys at my spot is drunk people trying to shoplift/generally being shiny happy people.

I worked at one for 3 years. Got robbed twice...

Have good insurance.

Maroon92 wrote: I worked at one for 3 years. Got robbed twice... Have good insurance.

Where was this?

The whitest richest part of south central Michigan about 6 years ago.

You will get robbed more from the employee side of the counter than you will from the customer side. That will be your greatest trouble.

Drinking your stock will hurt your bottom line.

93EXCivic wrote: Drinking your stock will hurt your bottom line.

I'm drinkin it one way or the other, brother

drive-thru window ftw

fasted58 wrote: drive-thru window ftw

berkeley YEAH!

I suggest delivery service

<img src="" />

If nothing else that's a great name for a business.

I'd be tempted to throw an adjective up front. "Angry?" "Hairy?"

I know it varies greatly from area to area, but getting planning permission may be your biggest hurdle. If the current store owner across town has an "in" with the local planning board, forget it.

could you also get a permit for in-store consumption, then have a deli counter and a few tables inside where people could sit down and have a sammich and a beer? more work, more stuff to clean, but probably better margins.

Dealing with the contant/rotating reps is PITA.

Maroon92 wrote: The whitest richest part of south central Michigan about 6 years ago.

Out of interest, where specificaly? If you mean literaly the richest whitest that would be Franklin, Bloomfield Village or Birmingham

pilotbraden wrote: I suggest delivery service <img src="" />

LMAO

AngryCorvair wrote: could you also get a permit for in-store consumption, then have a deli counter and a few tables inside where people could sit down and have a sammich and a beer? more work, more stuff to clean, but probably better margins.

This place has been open by us for a few years now. Not sure how successful they are, but it is an uber-cool store. Best thing about it is, like AC mentioned below, you can drink in the store. I don't know what that entails, but it is sweet to stop by there, pop open a beer and drink it while building a sweet mixed 6 pack. They also have ~2 beers on tap (in a back room) so they sever draft beer as well. might be easier to just serve alcohol, rather than get into food too.

http://www.tipplesbrews.com/

As for the strip center you're looking at, could you possible relocate the frame shop to the same location? You could potentially have both businesses running at the same time.

Name inspired by some of the greatest sailboat racers, ever!

Bier Station is a place that just opened a few blocks from my house. You can drink there, or buy your bottles and take it home. It works in my neighborhood, which is pretty walkable, and has lots of people who like craft beer.

As for whether it's a good idea, I can't say. I work for a small company. Depending on how much you can delegate, you as the owner could end up spending all of your time at work.

Look into the licenses first. If they are anything like the liquor license bars need, they can be hard or costly to come by.

I say do it. Keep a shotgun under the counter. LOL If you run it as a classy place and not a friggin trashy hole in the wall, you'll attract quality customers. I like that you have SOME competition. That's always good. See if you can make friends with some microbreweries around your area and have monthly specials. See if they will bring you a bunch of beer and you sell it and then pay them for it. May work out well for some of them that are just starting up. Anyway, I don't have any other experience or expertise to offer other than good vibes and well wishes.