Poll of the Day > do you think it's hard to own a liquor store

(+) Yeah! (+)

or do those businesses usually have regular success no matter what?

by hard i mean large chance of failure
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Depends. I live in a wet county but a dry township. The liquor store that is the closest gets the business. If the township ever votes wet then they will greatly lose business.

Overall the businesses along main roads and interstate highways I know of have been in business for years but I don't know how often they change hands.

Id be dead within the month.

Brb, applying for license.

my "step grandfather" and his family own one. It does not look that hard
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CacciatoPart2 posted...

Id be dead within the month.

Brb, applying for license.

bro that's what i was thinking this morning. i drove by this liquor store at 9:30 and it's not even open yet. it looks like it's been around since the fuckin 50s.

i feel like if i could get a loan i could rent a building and run a liquor store and just sit around all day doing inventory and orders. i used to work at a liquor store in Washington before they allowed supermarkets and stuff to carry liquor.

it's just that i don't really know anything about taxes or requirements for owning a business outside of needing to obtain a liquor license lmfao
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Jen0125 posted...

CacciatoPart2 posted...

Id be dead within the month.

Brb, applying for license.

bro that's what i was thinking this morning. i drove by this liquor store at 9:30 and it's not even open yet. it looks like it's been around since the fuckin 50s.

i feel like if i could get a loan i could rent a building and run a liquor store and just sit around all day doing inventory and orders. i used to work at a liquor store in Washington before they allowed supermarkets and stuff to carry liquor.

it's just that i don't really know anything about taxes or requirements for owning a business outside of needing to obtain a liquor license lmfao

Good question. I'd assume as long as you didn't have anything weird on your record(i.e. felony conviction), that you probably could theoretically apply for an alcohol off premises(to go sales) license without any issue in most states.

And ugh, don't get me started on how too many liquor stores in Chicago are sketchy looking and seem ripoff like(for prices) in how they operate. :( I've gotten to the point, where I only go to a few select ones that do a decent job of carrying craft(microbrewed) beer. My favorite one is just outside of the neighborhood I live in(Bottles and Cans), but I find it more than worth it to go a slight bit further to go to that one. Such a great run store, and the staff ACTUALLY knows about the beers they carry! Also they even do the rare step of allowing you to mix(most any, there are some exceptions) beers into a create your own 4 or 6 pack, that aren't in the CYO 4/6 pack section. Most stores don't allow any deviations from what's in the CYO 4 or 6 pack area to be mixed into one, so Bottles and Cans permitting that is a big treat IMO. The Beer Temple is also awesome, if you're into craft beer.
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DumpsterMcNuggets posted...

And ugh, don't get me started on how too many liquor stores in Chicago are sketchy looking and seem ripoff like(for prices) in how they operate.

You don't fuck with Binny's?
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DumpsterMcNuggets posted...

Jen0125 posted...

CacciatoPart2 posted...

Id be dead within the month.

Brb, applying for license.

bro that's what i was thinking this morning. i drove by this liquor store at 9:30 and it's not even open yet. it looks like it's been around since the fuckin 50s.

i feel like if i could get a loan i could rent a building and run a liquor store and just sit around all day doing inventory and orders. i used to work at a liquor store in Washington before they allowed supermarkets and stuff to carry liquor.

it's just that i don't really know anything about taxes or requirements for owning a business outside of needing to obtain a liquor license lmfao

Good question. I'd assume as long as you didn't have anything weird on your record(i.e. felony conviction), that you probably could theoretically apply for an alcohol off premises(to go sales) license without any issue in most states.

And ugh, don't get me started on how too many liquor stores in Chicago are sketchy looking and seem ripoff like(for prices) in how they operate. :( I've gotten to the point, where I only go to a few select ones that do a decent job of carrying craft(microbrewed) beer. My favorite one is just outside of the neighborhood I live in(Bottles and Cans), but I find it more than worth it to go a slight bit further to go to that one. Such a great run store, and the staff ACTUALLY knows about the beers they carry! Also they even do the rare step of allowing you to mix(most any, there are some exceptions) beers into a create your own 4 or 6 pack, that aren't in the CYO 4/6 pack section. Most stores don't allow any deviations from what's in the CYO 4 or 6 pack area to be mixed into one, so Bottles and Cans permitting that is a big treat IMO. The Beer Temple is also awesome, if you're into craft beer.

yeah i mean a lot of liquor stores look sketchy because i'm sure they don't maintain their appearance that well. a lot of liquor stores i go into smell musty and old. i think they buy used shelving and stuff for the most part. the one i worked at in WA was owned by the liquor control board so it was pretty nice.
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Depends on where you are m8

I wouldnt open a liquor store in the hood for example

I think the most difficult part is probably dealing with all the licensing and laws. In Texas we have a lot of crazy laws in regards to alcohol.

I think there may a market for more upscale experiences now, looking at the success of stores like Total Wine in my area. They kind of skew away from that seedy liquor store vibe you get from a lot of places, and are always busy, despite having somewhat higher prices.

not making wine or spirits and selling them on the side

scrubs.
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Selling anything addictive is easy.
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Depends on the country and the taxes and shit.

Here in Venezuela it's one of the only thriving businesses around, especially in my city which has an average temperature of 27 degrees Celsius throughout the year.

People spend half their income on Beer, which is the reason we still haven't been able to kick off that motherfucking Maduro. We're too wasted to do shit.
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Providing the prices are good they do fine in my area. We have many off-licences.
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Depends on if your an alcoholic or not I guess.
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OmegaTomHank posted...

Depends on where you are m8

I wouldnt open a liquor store in the hood for example

You'd likely make a shitton of money, after you've covered the costs of your bulletproof glass enclosure.

RCtheWSBC posted...

DumpsterMcNuggets posted...

And ugh, don't get me started on how too many liquor stores in Chicago are sketchy looking and seem ripoff like(for prices) in how they operate.

You don't fuck with Binny's?

I wasn't referring to Binny's. You know what I mean! The type of liquor store that often are usually more convenient than a Binny's to travel to, but often look mediocre and sketchy inside, and don't have very good prices. You know, the type of liquor store you only go to in a pinch if you're desperate.

And I really like Binny's, myself. In fact, I wish I didn't have to drive to get to the closest one. Although I've heard talk that one might finally open near where I live, soon.
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Where I live the county owns all the liquor stores.
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the one in my old town closed down pretty fast because no one went to it
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Yopster posted...

Where I live the county owns all the liquor stores.

I hate the parts of the country, where liquor stores are still ran by the state or some other government under strict rules. I really prefer the states where private businesses can operate liquor stores as they want to, but to each their own.
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DumpsterMcNuggets posted...

RCtheWSBC posted...

DumpsterMcNuggets posted...

And ugh, don't get me started on how too many liquor stores in Chicago are sketchy looking and seem ripoff like(for prices) in how they operate.

You don't fuck with Binny's?

I wasn't referring to Binny's. You know what I mean! The type of liquor store that often are usually more convenient than a Binny's to travel to, but often look mediocre and sketchy inside, and don't have very good prices. You know, the type of liquor store you only go to in a pinch if you're desperate.

And I really like Binny's, myself. In fact, I wish I didn't have to drive to get to the closest one. Although I've heard talk that one might finally open near where I live, soon.

Haha I know what you mean. I should've asked if you're located near a Binny's; I know that feel. Hyde Park has a couple non-skeevy liquor stores thankfully.
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RCtheWSBC posted...

DumpsterMcNuggets posted...

RCtheWSBC posted...

DumpsterMcNuggets posted...

And ugh, don't get me started on how too many liquor stores in Chicago are sketchy looking and seem ripoff like(for prices) in how they operate.

You don't fuck with Binny's?

I wasn't referring to Binny's. You know what I mean! The type of liquor store that often are usually more convenient than a Binny's to travel to, but often look mediocre and sketchy inside, and don't have very good prices. You know, the type of liquor store you only go to in a pinch if you're desperate.

And I really like Binny's, myself. In fact, I wish I didn't have to drive to get to the closest one. Although I've heard talk that one might finally open near where I live, soon.

Haha I know what you mean. I should've asked if you're located near a Binny's; I know that feel. Hyde Park has a couple non-skeevy liquor stores thankfully.

I recall when I was down there, I liked Kimbark Liquors. Also, I do recall noticing a Binny's Express, that was on 53rd Street. Maybe there are some other liquor stores down there, I'm forgetting about. I should try the new Jolly Pumpkin brewpub and restaurant, that opened not long ago in that area.

So I basically live inbetween a few Binny's locations, but none exactly near where I live. There was one proposed to open on Lawrence east of Damen where Sears used to have a store in till just over a year ago, so if that one comes to fruitation, it'll be a lot easier for me to get to Binny's. The new one in Lincolnwood was pretty nice(in an old grocery store space), when I stopped there en route to going to Village Crossing and also Half Price Books. Sometimes I have stopped at the ones in Skokie(Dempster St) and also Clark/Halsted, if I'm in that area.

Sigh with how unusually cold it's gotten, I don't feel up as much to want to travel. Hopefully we get some weather days in the teens and 20s soon again, instead of this annoying wind chill pushing temps below zero.
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DumpsterMcNuggets posted...

I recall when I was down there, I liked Kimbark Liquors. Also, I do recall noticing a Binny's Express, that was on 53rd Street. Maybe there are some other liquor stores down there, I'm forgetting about. I should try the new Jolly Pumpkin brewpub and restaurant, that opened not long ago in that area.

Yup, I'm all about Kimbark Liquors! They actually closed that Binny's Express and opened a full fledged store off 47th and Lake Park.

DumpsterMcNuggets posted...

Sigh with how unusually cold it's gotten, I don't feel up as much to want to travel. Hopefully we get some weather days in the teens and 20s soon again, instead of this annoying wind chill pushing temps below zero.

Man, I'm coming from 80-degree South Florida back up there tomorrow and I am not prepared. This is only my second Chicago winter and I've never felt below zero temperatures!
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DumpsterMcNuggets posted...

Sigh with how unusually cold it's gotten, I don't feel up as much to want to travel. Hopefully we get some weather days in the teens and 20s soon again, instead of this annoying wind chill pushing temps below zero.

This is a normal winter, like we used to have in the 80s.

DumpsterMcNuggets posted...

Yopster posted...

Where I live the county owns all the liquor stores.

I hate the parts of the country, where liquor stores are still ran by the state or some other government under strict rules. I really prefer the states where private businesses can operate liquor stores as they want to, but to each their own.

Actually it's not bad like in Utah. I live in Maryland. The stores are well stocked and super clean and prices are better than at least Northern Virginia because my friends always ask me to buy a few bottles to bring down. Beer and wine stores can be owned privately. The only downside I can think of is that new stuff that comes out is usually hard to come by for a few weeks.
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