I spoke with an industry contact recently who told me how busy he has been lately. I told him I was happy to hear about his being busy as I believed that was an indication that business must be good. He proceeded to tell me that he is working with a coalition to oppose a proposal to allow the sale of wine in grocery stores.
He made me aware of some lobbying efforts taking place in Albany on February 25th against the proposal and encouraged me to speak out against the proposal.
More information can be found on their website “The Last Store on Main Street”.
I must admit that I am not sure how I feel about all of this. I have heard arguements advocating both positions and they each make sense.
That said I am a big advocate of the little guy and believe that a part of the economic crisis we are presently facing has to do with large corporations/banks spending frivolously to expand and put the little guy out of business. I have seen what this effect has had on commercial real estate prices in NYC and this legislation seems to perpetuate this trend.
While massive selection at the big liquor stores is nice, and low prices one can expect in supermarkets (should the proposal pass) are welcome, I do think that this will make business even more challenging for the mom and pop shops and if this forces their closure I will miss them and their personal charm a great deal.
Please get informed about this important pending proposal either via the “Last Store…” webpage or any other means. And then contact your elected officials and make your voice heard.
Happy initiative taking and wine tasting (purchasing) the way YOU want it!
WTG
In California the grocery stores and small MOM and Pop’s coexist nicely. They are so different and the service cannot be compared. I disagree with not having alcohol in a grocery store I think it’s antiquated.
I agree supermarkets should carry wine. There’s too many wines out there that the consumer should have as many opportunities to buy wine as possible. The smaller shops will carry different wines and offer different services (free tastings, events, bistro menus, singles scenes) that supermarkets won’t. Hey where would people buy Gallo’s jug wines if not in the market? (not that I suggest they do but that market does exist).
The selection of wine in California is amazing whether you go to the supermarket, Costco (which is the largest retailer of premium wines in the US), Trader Joes (which has a good selection of interesting value wines) if you can forgive them for 2 buck chuck, all the wineries’ gift shops, great restaurant wine lists and the explosion of wine bars. There seems to be room for everybody if they stake out a niche. Those who I’ve seen failed either tried to swim against the current without a viable business model or failed to provide a service worthy of surviving in such a competitive market place.
Let the “Free Market” work it’s way through this maze and all will be OK. Yes some will fail but others will thrive if there’s an opening for all food, wine, and liquor stores to sell whatever they feel their customer is asking for. The othe big plus is the average price of alcoholic beverages should decline once everyone is the game. Keep one other thing in mind if the current package stores are allowed beer along with wine and spirits they gain in the long run. The grocery stores will only sell wine and beer. Let’s hope the legislature is able to see through the smoke and make this reality.
good topic. i like the article