[RP TownTalk] (no subject)

[Karen Krueger]

I was told by an employee of a Montgomery County liquor store in
Bethesda that grocery stores in the county could only sell beer and
wine in one location of Montgomery county, so I assume "region" is
defined as county, at least in Montgomery. It seems to make sense -- I
can't think of any stores that sell beer or wine in more than one
location there.

As far as choosing a location, it's all about demographics. Whole
Foods and Trader Joe's know exactly who their customers are. They know
how far they will drive from their homes to shop. They know the other
stores their customers tend to shop at. That's why you see the same
stores grouped together in strip mall after strip mall. (I used to
work for Pier 1's Real Estate division in a former life doing
demographic profiles). It's all about the numbers. If they find enough
people that fit their demographic group within a reasonable radius,
they know from experience that the store will make money.

Karen


On 10/17/05, Andrew Farrington <somefool at dvnt.com> wrote:
> My understanding is gleaned from hearsay, but I'd been of the impression
> that the state has a policy allowing beer and wine, but not spirits, to be
> sold in one branch of a given chain per region?  Not that I have any such
> helpful information as what might constitute a 'region' of the state, or
> even whether this notion has any factual basis at all.  Perhaps someone
> has more concrete data, or knows where to find something of the sort -
> something both edifying but easy to cut and paste to the list, maybe?
>
> I for one am not inclined to agitate (much) for the cause, but would very
> much welcome and support a brick-and-mortar gourmet organic market of our
> very own.  My favorite is Whole Foods personally, but whatever!  More
> power to you guys!  A Trader Joe's would be great too.
>
> I agree with Jared about classist posturing.  What's "high income,"
> anyway?  Where's the line?  If we're going to form camps we should have
> some clear info to work with, neighbors!  ;)
>
> Andy
>
>
> On Mon, 17 Oct 2005, Laureys, Ken R. wrote:
>
> > David -- Actually, beer & wine is sold in the Glenridge Giant (at
> > intersection of 410 & 450).  However, I believe they were grandfathered
> > in when the county modified it liquor laws (before I arrived here in
> > 1987).  Each county controls those decisions, and Montgomery County for
> > example, opted to use special "County Liquor Stores" for hard liquors.
> >
> > You can contact the 'Liquor Board, which is a state-county appointed
> > board(see following):
> >
> > Board of License Commissioners (Alcohol)
> > 5012 Rhode Island Ave
> > Hyattsville, MD  20781
> >
> > Ken Laureys
> >
> > -----Original Message-----
> > From: TownTalk-bounces at riverdale-park.org
> > [mailto:TownTalk-bounces at riverdale-park.org]On Behalf Of David Hiles
> > Sent: Sunday, October 16, 2005 12:13 PM
> > To: TownTalk at riverdale-park.org
> > Subject: [RP TownTalk] (no subject)
> >
> >
> > dear fellow citizens,
> >
> > for me, this is a quality of life issue.  i'd like to see our town
> > gov't help improve this aspect of life in our area.  telling me to go
> > elsewhere and stop whining misses the point. or maybe sends me and
> > other high income citizens another message...
> >
> > in many places in the USA, you can routinely buy beer and wine at the
> > grocery. in my experience this includes, charlottesville, charleston,
> > alexandria, san diego, eugene, austin, etc.  all cool places in my
> > view.
> >
> > buying a box of wine at the grocery store is more convenient than
> > having to go to a liquor store. convenience is good.  i'm pretty busy
> > and i've always found it irritating to have to go out of my way to buy
> > my malt liquor.  irritation and malt liquor, not a good combination...
> > anyway, why it is better for our quality of life to have lots of liquor
> > stores?  do we have this strange arrangement because of effective
> > special interest lobbying? "but dumms's corner and franklin's might
> > lose some beer and wine sales."  so what?  they shouldn't get special
> > protection in the law.  we would have more bread stores if there was a
> > law against sellling bread at the grocery. in jurisdictions where beer
> > and wine is universally available at grocery stores, you have fewer
> > liquor stores.
> >
> > i would like someone to explain to me why profit-seeking groceries in
> > our area don't routinely sell this staple product.  my guess is 1)
> > delegate justin ross is not a dummy, and 2) that "existing law" makes
> > it difficult for groceries in our fair county to sell beer/wine, maybe
> > particularly if there is a liquor store already near by.  there may be
> > something similar at work in montgomery county.    i don't care about
> > the glenridge giant or the coop grocery in greenbelt.  i shop at the
> > giants in riverdale plaza, in beltway plaza, on queen's chapel road,
> > and across from pg plaza. none of these sell beer or wine. why is this
> > a good situation and good public policy?  bad, outmoded laws can be
> > fixed.
> >
> > i know people who have left our area because of poor shopping options.
> > the trader joe's in the va suburbs do sell wine.  the maryland joe's
> > don't.