Opening a liquor store

corvette1340

corvette1340

www.EpawnMarket.com
Silver Member
This may need to be in the NPR section, but I thought that most people in the main forum never visit the NPR section and might have some valuable feedback. I am thinking of opening a liquor store in Athens, GA and would like to know if anyone has any knowledge of owning or running one. I basically want an entity where I don't have to be there very often that can basically be sustained by one trustworthy person. I have no idea how much the license is yet, nor anything about the liquor distributors or other details. I'm just tossing the idea around right now and would appreciate any feedback.
Thanks
 
corvette1340 said:
This may need to be in the NPR section, but I thought that most people in the main forum never visit the NPR section and might have some valuable feedback. I am thinking of opening a liquor store in Athens, GA and would like to know if anyone has any knowledge of owning or running one. I basically want an entity where I don't have to be there very often that can basically be sustained by one trustworthy person. I have no idea how much the license is yet, nor anything about the liquor distributors or other details. I'm just tossing the idea around right now and would appreciate any feedback.
Thanks
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licenses here are hard to get and run about 100k, may be different in your state. They aren't really that expensive here, but they are all owned so you end up having to buy one from someone that has one if I understand correctly.

I worked in multiple liquor stores while in college, usually at the same time. Biggest thing is having employees you trust and are willing to keep things in order and not just sit around all night. Of course it depends on how busy the store is. I worked on a college campus so we were busy, worked in one in my home town and there wasn't a whole lot to do at night so it was boring *lol*.

Do you have controlled liquor sales in your state? Excise police?

Good vendors help as well. Lot of liquor stores in my state form co-ops to make buys at discount.
 
Mike Templeton said:
You opening a liquor store....Wouldn't that be like Marion Barry running a crack house???????????
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lol, luckily I no longer actually live in Athens and am an hour away. So basically it would be hard to drink the profits if I'm only there every so often.
 
Worth giving a shot.should be a easy money maker........

Few things to consider

location......out by Campus = big money always gonna be busy....problem is the cops will be on you for selling to underage folks....even if they con you with fake IDs..it is still your fault if you get caught!!!

a better location might be somewhere close to dry counties.... my very first job was at a little gas store in Roberta GA...the back side had a booze shop...all of the locals came there cause it was a 20-30 min drive to Macon..and all of the folks from the other counties to the west came in cause they were all dry and we were the closest thing around.......BIG MONEY

Another plus is the high gross on booze...the markup is monster...40-60% or more... I ran a small store on a millitary post here and I was buying BLue lable JW for 38 bucks..selling it for 100.....

Vendor support is key... I walways had good vendors..demos/ tastings every weekend..give aways (tshirts, koozies whatever other BS)
a good vendor moves his product even if it is a dog......

I have been a retailer for a long long time...PM if you want to talk further...

P.S.... I would like to try and move back to GA soon...I need a JOB first maybe we could work something out :D... I am also a former car man.... you need a sales manager?
 
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I Sell Liquor And Wine

I Sell Liquor And Wine For A Living And Let Me Tell You Its Not Easy To Have A Liquor Store That You Not Willing To Spend Time In. Finding Somebody That Is Trustworthy Is Going To Be Your Hardest Job, And I Know I Dont Know Your Family But Let Me Tell You Your Family Will Be The First To Start Dipping There Hands Into The Till If You Think Your Going To Put A Family Member Behind The Till. Licenses Here In Ca. Are Around $15,ooo, Im Not To Sure What They Cost In Ga. Its Not Easy And Its Not A Money Maker, Imo A Bar Is The Way To Go. In A Liquor Store You Work Off 30% Mark Up Unless Its Candy And Little Nick Nacks, Beer You Are Just Trading Dollars With The Beer Companys Maybee 8 To 12% Markup. In A Bar You Can Make 200 To 400% Profit Off A Bottle. Just My 2cents Take Care And Good Luck
 
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corvette1340 said:
This may need to be in the NPR section, but I thought that most people in the main forum never visit the NPR section and might have some valuable feedback. I am thinking of opening a liquor store in Athens, GA and would like to know if anyone has any knowledge of owning or running one. I basically want an entity where I don't have to be there very often that can basically be sustained by one trustworthy person. I have no idea how much the license is yet, nor anything about the liquor distributors or other details. I'm just tossing the idea around right now and would appreciate any feedback.
Thanks
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you would do better opening a brouthel, and running it be HAND___ ha :) :p :p :p :p :p
 
I hear you can get really good insurance coverage on a liquor store...around 350k or so....:D

Southpaw
 
Southpaw said:
I hear you can get really good insurance coverage on a liquor store...around 350k or so....:D

Southpaw
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lol, yeah, I thought about that. I don't think its a smart idea to get 350K worth of insurance on a place that is worth 25K and then "magically" it catches on fire. Even if boxes weren't stacked in the middle of the place an actual fire is going to look downright suspicious.
 
store

You should open up a Gun store also. Boozes and guns, how can you go wrong.
 
Inventory control will be your number one concern. Several aspects to it and you will need to know everyone of them.
IMO it doesnt sound like a great idea if your not going to be working there and managing the place.

I lived in both Athens and Auburn and knew people working in the stores. The ones without good inventory control were always busy but had little profit :rolleyes:
We always knew where to go to get the hookups.

One good thing is that you can get your traffic and customer counts so high that your shrinkage can become slightly less of an issue compared to some locations not in a college town.

If you allowed to sell kegs then sell them at the best price in town and
then try and upsale every order. Theres not a huge markup in kegs but the shrinkage is less and theres a need in college towns.
I always thought that liquor stores sold their cases of beer to high but then again there cost might have been pretty high and its also an item few people go to a liqour store to get. I little more but it becomes a one stop shop.

Do you have a location or side of town you are looking at in Athens?

Did you talk with Bruce about playing Donny Mills or Bartrum? I'm an old friend of Bruce's. Hope he is doing well. I hear he isnt playing much.
 
frankncali said:
Inventory control will be your number one concern. Several aspects to it and you will need to know everyone of them.
IMO it doesnt sound like a great idea if your not going to be working there and managing the place.

I lived in both Athens and Auburn and knew people working in the stores. The ones without good inventory control were always busy but had little profit :rolleyes:
We always knew where to go to get the hookups.

One good thing is that you can get your traffic and customer counts so high that your shrinkage can become slightly less of an issue compared to some locations not in a college town.

If you allowed to sell kegs then sell them at the best price in town and
then try and upsale every order. Theres not a huge markup in kegs but the shrinkage is less and theres a need in college towns.
I always thought that liquor stores sold their cases of beer to high but then again there cost might have been pretty high and its also an item few people go to a liqour store to get. I little more but it becomes a one stop shop.

Do you have a location or side of town you are looking at in Athens?

Did you talk with Bruce about playing Donny Mills or Bartrum? I'm an old friend of Bruce's. Hope he is doing well. I hear he isnt playing much.
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nah, Bruce doesn't play much at all anymore. One of our friends told me that he beat a guy out of a couple hundred even the other night and then the next night the guy just wanted the 8 for a couple hundred a set and Bruce could have given him the 6 out but told him that Saturday was his drinking night and he didn't want to play. It seems if I didn't have a job that a free 4-600 dollars would be worth not drinking for one Saturday night, but hey, Bruce has always danced to a different beat.
I would like to get a location as close to campus and downtown as possible. The only ordinance is you can't be too close to school, church, or private residence. I also found out that the license is $3000 for retail liquor, $450 for beer, and $300 for wine. So that is extremely cheap IMO. I see it as a can't miss proposition. I mean even if its not that busy then it is still worth the small investment because it has to make money right?
 
corvette1340 said:
nah, Bruce doesn't play much at all anymore. One of our friends told me that he beat a guy out of a couple hundred even the other night and then the next night the guy just wanted the 8 for a couple hundred a set and Bruce could have given him the 6 out but told him that Saturday was his drinking night and he didn't want to play. It seems if I didn't have a job that a free 4-600 dollars would be worth not drinking for one Saturday night, but hey, Bruce has always danced to a different beat.
I would like to get a location as close to campus and downtown as possible. The only ordinance is you can't be too close to school, church, or private residence. I also found out that the license is $3000 for retail liquor, $450 for beer, and $300 for wine. So that is extremely cheap IMO. I see it as a can't miss proposition. I mean even if its not that busy then it is still worth the small investment because it has to make money right?
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Good luck if you go ahead.
That is a little cheaper than I thought. Another thing to maybe look into is getting a catering license that allows you to sell alcohol. Here I know two people that have them and they turn over a nice profit with it. Generally they dont do the food catering but rather just the bar service.
Many weddings and parties are way from aa location that has the ability to sell liquor or beer/wine. Thats where this come in.

You will need to build a really good relationship with the distributors. I would find a small place and limit your floor inventory numbers. Keep the bulk of your inventory locked away with few keys and a strong inventory management method in place.
Whats the penalty for selling to a minor??? College town equals a big risk.
If you could find adults to work then you might be better off but having a
young close to college aged employee does seem to help get the student population into the store.
Naming you location IMO can be key as well. The main draw is the booze but you want a sign and name thats easy to recall. You wont be the only game in town.
One idea is to offer a dicount on game day and or all game day weekend to anyone with a ticket stub or ticket for that game. You guys get about 60k people converging on Athens and that could be a way to promote.

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I have always thought that Bruce had tons and tons of talent but he never seemed to want to take it to the next level. He is still a good guy or was when I was around him alot.
I was surprised to hear the Nevel beat him. Im not sure how long they played or how far ahead Larry got but I like Bruces end of that. Of course I have lost betting on him as well. Nothings is a lock.
 
frankncali said:
Good luck if you go ahead.
That is a little cheaper than I thought. Another thing to maybe look into is getting a catering license that allows you to sell alcohol. Here I know two people that have them and they turn over a nice profit with it. Generally they dont do the food catering but rather just the bar service.
Many weddings and parties are way from aa location that has the ability to sell liquor or beer/wine. Thats where this come in.

You will need to build a really good relationship with the distributors. I would find a small place and limit your floor inventory numbers. Keep the bulk of your inventory locked away with few keys and a strong inventory management method in place.
Whats the penalty for selling to a minor??? College town equals a big risk.
If you could find adults to work then you might be better off but having a
young close to college aged employee does seem to help get the student population into the store.
Naming you location IMO can be key as well. The main draw is the booze but you want a sign and name thats easy to recall. You wont be the only game in town.
One idea is to offer a dicount on game day and or all game day weekend to anyone with a ticket stub or ticket for that game. You guys get about 60k people converging on Athens and that could be a way to promote.

---------
I have always thought that Bruce had tons and tons of talent but he never seemed to want to take it to the next level. He is still a good guy or was when I was around him alot.
I was surprised to hear the Nevel beat him. Im not sure how long they played or how far ahead Larry got but I like Bruces end of that. Of course I have lost betting on him as well. Nothings is a lock.
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yeah, I've already brainstormed 100 different ideas on promotion. I think I'll have several scantily clad college girls going around campus on gamedays giving out t-shirts, koozies, hats, etc... along with discount cards and offers. I'm also good friends with several bar owners in Athens so maybe we can cross promote in some fashion. I've thought about names and "Tailgate Liquors" kind of stands out.
 
corvette1340 said:
yeah, I've already brainstormed 100 different ideas on promotion. I think I'll have several scantily clad college girls going around campus on gamedays giving out t-shirts, koozies, hats, etc... along with discount cards and offers. I'm also good friends with several bar owners in Athens so maybe we can cross promote in some fashion. I've thought about names and "Tailgate Liquors" kind of stands out.
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I like it. Its not anything like all the overused Bulldawg themes.
 
I have ran a liquor store, and let me tell you..... dont.
The startup costs will take you a very long time to recoup. (license, initial inventory, lease, shelving, getting the place astetically ready to open etc etc etc)
Then you have the employee end of it to worry about (workers comp insurance, employee theft etc etc etc)
After all the money coming OUT of your pocket just to have an open liquor store..... you have to have it insured, you will have to worry about competitive pricing (if you try to run 50-60% gross, you will be out of business quickly, cause the only folks who will shop there will be the thieves and minors who dont know any better).
That brings up the fines you will face if your employees screw up and sell to a minor, it can and does happen..... alot.
From there you have to make sure the distributors are getting paid, so you will need an accountant, they can take care of your payroll at the same time......

Do you see where I am going with this? If you are wanting a little "gold mine" so to speak the only way to have a chance at it are you and your family working it 7 days a week from opening to closing time. And even then, you will find there is not a huge amount of money to be made in a smaller store.
There are alot of details to consider, and most will lead you to the same conclusion.
Chuck
 
I often have wondered how BevMo has made it. The overhead has to be a killer and their markups are less.
Labor is a huge killer in any business but a place like Bevmo has many employees. They are usually in good high rent shopping centers as well.

There must be some money to be made or they wouldnt be doing it. Same with Drug stores. Usually low mark ups and quite a risk for them.
 
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