Wednesday, May 23, 2012
Socialism! Lower Taxes! Liquor!
Yesterday's Minneapolis Star-Tribune had a great story about the fate of municipal liquor stores in Minnesota. They are very common here, though their success varies.
The story describes Edina's city-owned liquor stores as a "rock star," making as much money as the 137 worst-performing stores in the state, and raking in over $6 million in profit from one store alone (that being the one pictured above). Intriguingly, this success comes amidst real competition-- I live in Edina, close to a Costco, a Trader Joe's, and several other stores that sell beer, wine, and liquor. And yet... the city-owned store thrives.
The upshot is this: Property taxes are 4% lower than they would be otherwise.
That's some socialism you can believe in!
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Getting samples at the liquor store. No wonder they are so successful: they are socialists who give out samples. Brilliant!
Wow, that is one fancy liquor stoe. Almost as fancy as a Total Wine store. I wish our stores in Durham were that nice. Our stores resemble small concrete bunkers with the letters ABC hung prominently on the front. They are meant to be driven past down here in the Bible-belt and any profit goes into the pockets of the crooked county ABC boards.
But alas, they are not. We can buy liquor and mixers; but not tonic and club soda. We have to go to the grocery store for those. The logic escapes me - something about Coke and Pesi owning those products.
But alas, they are not. We can buy liquor and mixers; but not tonic and club soda. We have to go to the grocery store for those. The logic escapes me - something about Coke and Pesi owning those products.
All of the liquor stores in the State of Oregon (I have been told) are State Owned. You cannot buy anything except beer and wine in any grocery store here.
There is one liquor store in Canby and it is state owned. It is ONE NUTTY place. There is something so ODD about everyone who goes in there to buy stuff AND the people who work there.
Everyone has a story about the one in Canby and it is really kooky but everyone loves it and hopes it never closes. I went in there once to get just a tiny amount of Grand Marnier for a recipe. I did not want an entire bottle tough we have bought entire bottles of stuff there before. Usually Bill goes in, and this time I went.
I ask for the little teeny weeny airplane bottle of the GM. The guy looks at me strangely. He says, "We have alllllll kinds of those teeny bottles they are right over here. .."
I tell him thanks but he does not leave. He tells me "YOU know, those are 3 or 4 dollars some of them, and for like 8 dollars you can get a LOT MORE in this bigger bottles." I tell him that I am using it only for cooking etc I do not need a whole lot.
He seems VERRRY concerned that I am wasting my money and that he just wants me to get the MOST LIQUOR for my dollar or whatever OMG. I listen politely I keep declining.... Thank you SO much for that helpful advice I get what you re telling me, I really appreciate your advice etc.. but really I am only making this one little thing I etc...
Finally he leaves me alone, I think another customer came in. So then a few minutes later I go to pay for a teeny weeny airplane bottle of GM and I think Bourbon for a different recipe. So I put them on the counter. He says nothing but he is clearly QUITE frustrated, he says nothing but it seems like he REALLLY wants to and it is hard for him NOT to say something... but he does not.
The purchase is complete and I say thank you and walk to the door... "thank you, Bye!" I tell him...
"OH, You'll be back!!!!" he says...
That place is nutty. ALways an adventure
There is one liquor store in Canby and it is state owned. It is ONE NUTTY place. There is something so ODD about everyone who goes in there to buy stuff AND the people who work there.
Everyone has a story about the one in Canby and it is really kooky but everyone loves it and hopes it never closes. I went in there once to get just a tiny amount of Grand Marnier for a recipe. I did not want an entire bottle tough we have bought entire bottles of stuff there before. Usually Bill goes in, and this time I went.
I ask for the little teeny weeny airplane bottle of the GM. The guy looks at me strangely. He says, "We have alllllll kinds of those teeny bottles they are right over here. .."
I tell him thanks but he does not leave. He tells me "YOU know, those are 3 or 4 dollars some of them, and for like 8 dollars you can get a LOT MORE in this bigger bottles." I tell him that I am using it only for cooking etc I do not need a whole lot.
He seems VERRRY concerned that I am wasting my money and that he just wants me to get the MOST LIQUOR for my dollar or whatever OMG. I listen politely I keep declining.... Thank you SO much for that helpful advice I get what you re telling me, I really appreciate your advice etc.. but really I am only making this one little thing I etc...
Finally he leaves me alone, I think another customer came in. So then a few minutes later I go to pay for a teeny weeny airplane bottle of GM and I think Bourbon for a different recipe. So I put them on the counter. He says nothing but he is clearly QUITE frustrated, he says nothing but it seems like he REALLLY wants to and it is hard for him NOT to say something... but he does not.
The purchase is complete and I say thank you and walk to the door... "thank you, Bye!" I tell him...
"OH, You'll be back!!!!" he says...
That place is nutty. ALways an adventure
Apparently I had not consumed enough coffee when I wrote my post this morning. Sorry, I have no idea where I was going with "But alas, they are not."
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