Followup: State confirms Junction liquor store will move

Four months ago, we reported that the state liquor store in The Junction might move. We’d checked back a time or two since then, only to be told, no further progress on decisionmaking. But now that’s changed. After e-mail from Kyle, who spotted a “for lease” sign (which we subsequently photographed), we checked back with the Washington State Liquor Control Board, whose spokesperson Anne Radford now confirms the store WILL move:

The lease at the current location expires in the spring. We plan to relocate the store to a nearby location at that time.

Dates and the new location are currently under negotiation, so I don’t have any additional details at this time.

“Nearby” location certainly opens a lot of possibilities. We’ll keep checking back; thanks for your help keeping an eye out, too. The state previously had said the lease was set to expire next February, if not renewed. As you’ll likely recall, West Seattle’s other state liquor store moved relatively recently too; after closing in Morgan Junction in September 2008, it reopened on the north side of Westwood Village this past March.

31 Replies to "Followup: State confirms Junction liquor store will move"

  • Baba October 21, 2010 (4:25 pm)

    Sad, it will definitely have an effect on my posting frequency here. But when initiative 1100 gets passed, Costco will be just a quick TAXI ride away…

  • JBL October 21, 2010 (4:25 pm)

    Dang! This was so conveniently close to my house. Oh well. I guess it wouldn’t really matter if I-1100 passes.

  • Mary October 21, 2010 (5:03 pm)

    Hey, maybe a MEGA liquor store could go in the Whole Foods Hole!

  • Carson October 21, 2010 (5:29 pm)

    safe to they can pretty much moth ball all those stores, 1100 will pass and 1105 stands a chance. I like the idea of a private mega store!!

  • LAintheJunction October 21, 2010 (5:45 pm)

    NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO……….

  • marty October 21, 2010 (6:41 pm)

    Let’s hope that “nearby location” is Safeway. Does anyone know how much the state will save by not paying the monthly rent for the old location?

  • MW October 21, 2010 (6:56 pm)

    Hoping that everyone understands the impacts of 1100 and 1105 before they start wishing the state stores away…

  • William Brewer October 21, 2010 (7:08 pm)

    Where will those worthless state liquor store employees find jobs?

  • Carson October 21, 2010 (7:16 pm)

    the DMV?

  • Baba October 21, 2010 (7:18 pm)

    I will drink to that!!!

  • W.S. mavrick October 21, 2010 (7:21 pm)

    vote on the liquor bill, so we can buy spirits at 7 11 or at safeway

  • Summer Visitor October 21, 2010 (7:49 pm)

    Crime rate will go up if you can buy your liquor in your favorite stores.

    Living in Arizona where you can buy your liquor in the grocery stores, 7-11’s, Circle K’s kids have access to the booze so now you have the snatch, grab and run and more teens are drinking now. So now that you have it in your favorite stores look here comes the drive up liquor stores,(yes Arizona has these too) you won’t even have to get out of your car. Boy how cool is that NOT!

  • Cathy October 21, 2010 (9:13 pm)

    And you wonder why we all vote Yes for 1100!! I guess california’s are more responsible that Arizonians. They seem to handle buying liguor at the grocery store along with their other groceries. Maybe the state will focus on compliance rather than how much money they can make off of selling liquor.

  • dawsonct October 21, 2010 (9:24 pm)

    I don’t think crime in Az. has it’s roots in liquor availability. Or the preponderance of brown-skinned people either, for that matter, but that’s a different issue.
    As long as pot is illegal and easy to get, teenagers will stick to that and stealing from their parent’s liquor cabinet, just like they have for the last 40-50 years.

    I noticed QFC has a liquor application up; not wasting any time.

    I’m looking forward to that sweet little shop owned by a brown liquor aficionado. A great selection of liqueurs, brandies, Armagnac and cognac would not be unappreciated either.
    Quality, not quantity.

  • OP October 21, 2010 (10:04 pm)

    Maybe by spring, a private owner can take over liquor sales. If the voters have any brains, that is.
    Besides, I need some variety in top-shelf tequila, damnit.

  • OP October 21, 2010 (10:06 pm)

    FWIW: In June, I bought a bottle of Herradura silver tequila on Maui (wherever nearly everything is imported) for $32. Here? $43.95. ‘Nuff said.

  • kg October 22, 2010 (6:33 am)

    People still say/write NOT?!?

  • SarahScoot October 22, 2010 (7:55 am)

    Kg: I just assumed Maggie Lizer made that comment, thus the “NOT.”

  • HolyKow October 22, 2010 (10:30 am)

    The state does not belong in liquor sales…They are a regulation body only. Please do not gimme all this safety mumbo jumbo…most other states are private and they have not cracked open and fallen into the core of the earth.

    The state is not a sales agent. It is a governing and regulatory body. That is all.

    hk

  • villagegreen October 22, 2010 (10:40 am)

    Keep fear alive!

  • EJ October 22, 2010 (11:28 am)

    Maybe if we could just go to Safeway, Costco, or even a 7-11 for our Liquor this move would not be so interesting or to some devistating. If I see another commercial about voting no because the kids will have more access I might unplug my TV. I am a very young looking 30 year old meaning I always get carded for buy cigarettes at 7-11. I never get carded at the Liquor store. What is that telling you. The only thing I would miss about a Liquor store is getting free moving boxes!! But with even that they always stress about taking the inserts. If you have moved and used the Liquor Boxes you would know that the inserts are perfect for glasswear.

  • Larry Hunter October 22, 2010 (11:41 am)

    Why don’t people call us worthless employees to our face..over 1300 will be out of jobs..we do not have a income tax, that will be next if 1100 and/or 1105 pass.

  • YES October 22, 2010 (12:08 pm)

    “So now that you have it in your favorite stores look here comes the drive up liquor stores,(yes Arizona has these too) you won’t even have to get out of your car. Boy how cool is that” VERY COOL!!!!! YES! In Florida, they even give you a glass with ice! Now that’s what I’m talking about!

  • tacomachine October 22, 2010 (1:16 pm)

    At another point in time I would be in favor of Safeway, etc., selling booze. Right now however is not the time to do this. The state is in a huge budget crunch. If this revenue stream goes away it will be even worse. Let’s just wait this out a couple years, get back on our feet financially and then privatize the selling of liquor.

  • DBSea October 22, 2010 (1:19 pm)

    The liquore store employees are no more worthless than any other employee. That was uncalled for.

    And the state belongs in the regulatory, enforcement role, not as the retailer. I’d expect the grocery stores to be the prime retailers and private liquore stores, as it is in most states. I grew up with private liquor stores and don’t recall it being easy to purchase until I was legal. It’s about enforcement.

  • bridge to somewhere October 22, 2010 (2:58 pm)

    I should also say that I’ve actually always find the state liquor store employees helpful and nice. The same cannot be said for my general experience with convenience store employees, I’m afraid. I don’t mind the state stores.

  • chicago transplant October 22, 2010 (3:17 pm)

    Privatized liquor was fine in chicago. Those state store employees will be able to find jobs with the new outlets for these adult beverages that will spring up around town. New buyers, department managers, stock keepers, etc. Capitalism has a funny way of keeping those who want to contribute engaged. You may not start out where you want when you get on at QFC, but apply some initiative and you’ll be the beer/wine/liquor department manager soon enough.

  • Jill October 22, 2010 (3:37 pm)

    Anyone who is gung ho to vote yes on 1100 obviously has never lived next to a convenience store that’s open til 2 am. No thanks (even tho I’ve long since moved — I wouldn’t wish that hideous experience on anyone). Never mind the wider reaching issue of where the money should come from instead.

  • WTF October 22, 2010 (11:54 pm)

    If this ridiculous initiative passes, many of you will be changing your “handles” to avoid the embarassment of knowing you’ll be commenting on how terrible it is to have hard alcohol at your CLEAN little QFCs & Top Foods. Just wait…. Oh boy. Also, any comparisons to AZ or Cal must have forgotten AZ’s high crime rate and Cal just plain falling apart.

  • austin October 23, 2010 (8:09 am)

    I had no idea California’s economic problems were a result of their sales of liquor in grocery stores. Link?

  • dawsonct October 23, 2010 (11:34 am)

    I’m sure California’s issues have nothing to do with the fact it takes a super-majority to raise revenues (taxes), but a simple majority is all that’s needed to increase spending. Hope WE don’t make the same mistake.
    Of course, the conservative’s only solution is for the people’s government to stop spending on the people in order to funnel more of the people’s money into the pockets of a very tiny minority group that doesn’t really need our assistance.

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