News Column

Changes Ahead for Texas Businesses That Sell Spirits

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and wine in its Brookshire's, Super 1 Foods and FRESH by Brookshire's stores.

"With Proposition 2 passing, the citizens of Tyler and Precinct 2 have indicated they would like to have the opportunity to purchase beer and wine for off-premise consumption," Ms. Sanders said in a statement. "Upon certification of the various elections, BGC will submit applications for the permits to offer these products in our stores where Proposition 2 passed ..."

Plans are for the products to be available to customers soon after the permits are approved for BGC, she said, but there may be delays because the 45-60 day typical permitting timeline falls within the Thanksgiving and Christmas holiday schedule.

She said the company's category-management team, which is responsible for product assortment, pricing and in-store layout, is working with each store's schematics and equipment needs. They also are working to determine varieties to be carried in each store based on store size and other factors.

FRESH by Brookshire's, on Old Jacksonville Highway, plans to operate with two licenses. The store currently has an RM license for Restaurant, Food and Beverage, and will offer single serve alcoholic beverages for on-site consumption limited to the coffee, gelato and patio areas.

"Once the additional license is obtained, the store will offer packaged beer and wine for off-premise consumption," Ms. Sanders said. "FRESH will offer an expanded variety of products including craft beers and a larger selection of wines at varying price points."

While Brookeshire's and other local businesses have begun preparing to sell beer and wine, others hadn't made any decisions.

"Because of our great location, we're going to weigh all of our options," Billy DeLong said of his Blue Store on Texas Highway 155 in near Noonday. "We haven't made a decision (whether to sell beer and wine) at this time."

Crystal McAnally, store manager at the Walgreens at 1620 S. Broadway Ave., said, "Essentially our plan will revolve around what corporate has planned."

She said Walgreens already has a lot of stores that sell beer and wine in other cities, and she expects the four stores in Tyler will offer the same varieties they do. Ms. McAnally said space in a cooler with double facing doors will be devoted to stock beer for sale, while wine will be offered at room temperature in Aisle 9, along with the sodas, juices and other drinks.

Walgreens spokesman Robert Elfinger said he didn't have any specific information on the Tyler stores. He said there are more than 5,000 Walgreens that sell beer and wine.

Chelsea Rogers, a Target employee, said, "There are no details yet," on beer and wine sales at the Tyler store. She said they have not yet been informed if the local store will sell beer and wine.

Steve Tucker, general manager of the Walmart Supercenter on Troup Highway, said, "I don't have any information on that," regarding plans for beer and wine sales for the three Tyler Walmart Supercenters. "I'm not privy to that. We're in the holiday phase right now and trying to take care of our customers."

Corporate media relations for Walmart, Target and CVS Pharmacy did not return voice messages seeking comment on Wednesday.



Distributed by MCT Information Services



Source: (c) 2012 Tyler Morning Telegraph


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