New West Seattle Junction liquor store: ‘High-volume specialty’

When the state Liquor Control Board announced on Wednesday that it will expand and standardize store hours statewide, it also sneaked in a few words about the new West Seattle Junction liquor store. As first reported here in February, the store is moving from its California SW location to a new space in Capco Plaza (the QFC/Altamira Apartments building at 41st/42nd/Alaska). In the LCB’s Wednesday news release, the new West Seattle store is described as a “High-Volume Specialty Store,” which “will offer an upscale environment and an expanded and unique spirit selection complimented by regional wines and Northwest craft beers.” The state says it will open “later this summer.” Meantime, liquor stores’ hours will change July 1st to 10 am-9 pm Mondays-Thursdays and 10 am-10 pm Fridays-Saturdays (noon-5 Sundays for those that are open on Sunday, like this one).

Hacksaw June 23, 2011 (6:03 am)

I thought they also added 12-5 on Sundays?

WSB June 23, 2011 (10:07 am)

Yes, that’s the standardized Sunday hours, but not all stores are open Sundays. This one is so I’ll add that. It’s not a change, according to the current hours listed on the state website – TR

johnnyblegs June 23, 2011 (7:05 am)

Sounds nice but I think I’ll stick to going to the Beer Junction for my craft beers. Awesome selection there!

sun*e June 23, 2011 (8:31 am)

I really do prefer to buy my liquor in “an upscale environment”. ;)

stb June 23, 2011 (8:42 am)

Wow. Does this mean I can quit making the trek to 4th Ave S? That would be nice.

DKL June 23, 2011 (9:21 am)

How much more will that lease cost us compared to the current location? Does not seem necessary in order to sell liquor. We don’t have choices. Plus it sounds like they are selling competing products with private stores with the “regional wines and Northwest craft beers.” Does not seem right that state government is competing with private business. I don’t drink, so maybe I don’t understand this fully, but on the surface it seems wrong.

rob June 23, 2011 (10:31 am)

i don’t know why anyone would go to the liquor store to buy wine or beer when the supermarkets in the neighborhood have selections that outclass by a huge margin anything the lcb can keep in a store. there are places where there are liquor stores that aren’t near any other businesses, and it makes sense to have beer and wine in those stores for convenience. but, selling them from a store that is right next to a supermarket with a wine section that is probably more shelf space than the entire liquor store, seems pretty silly.
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that said, if they do actually provide an “expanded and unique spirit selection”, that would be nice to have. sadly, their idea of unique typically isn’t aside from the occasional case of super expensive stuff. using scotch as an example, there are about 10x as many distilleries in scotland than lcb puts in their stores. in a state where you can’t get anything they don’t decide you can have access to, this is pretty limiting. generally, what they do provide is mostly mass market run-of-the-mill stuff you can get anywhere.

redblack June 23, 2011 (11:04 am)

rob: maybe the “specialty” part of this new liquor store will accommodate your need for better quality scotch. it sounds like that’s what they’re going for.
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it’s also possible that their buyers don’t hear from customers who are looking for unique items.
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WSLCB is a government entity, paid for by you. as a shareholder, maybe you should make a request. the worst they can do is say, “no,” right?

Ryan June 23, 2011 (11:19 am)

Why are we using tax dollars to pay for wine and craft beer space to compete with local grocers and sales? Ask yourself why we need the state to control liquor when stores can do just as good of a job? How much more will this “upscale” liquor store cost us? How many more state funded pensions will we be paying to support this larger store? Plus I would hate to see them undermine the Beer Junction’s sales… If I want redhook I’ll go to QFC. If I want CRAFT beer I go to the Beer Junction.

John Scheidt June 23, 2011 (12:12 pm)

All liquor sales should be in the private sector. The state has no business taking jobs away from the local business’s. Then we also get stuck paying for all of those state employed people with a ton of benefits that no one else gets anymore. Out tax money is being wasted again.

Noelle June 23, 2011 (5:46 pm)

So CAPCO will have QFC, PETCO and Liquor this fall? That is amazing! All it needs is a Bed, Bath & Beyond and no one would ever leave!

fiz June 23, 2011 (9:19 pm)

Capco parking garages already scare me; can hardly wait for the drunks to buzz in. And out.

redblack June 24, 2011 (6:02 am)

john scheidt: instead of tearing down WSLCB employees, why not advocate increasing private sector workers’ wages and benefits?
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it’s not like WSLCB employees are driving rolls royces or anything.
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and the truth is that WSLCB brings a lot of money to the cities through olympia when other agencies are facing severe budget cuts.

Jason June 24, 2011 (10:06 am)

I agree with the previous comments. What business does the state have promoting NW wineries and breweries? Why do they promote a multi-million $ industry that offers hundereds of jobs here in our backyards?

dawsonct June 25, 2011 (2:36 am)

More brown liqours of all types, please! Whiskey, whisky, Bourbon, Armagnac, Cognac, mezcal, brandies of every variety! More liqueurs would be nice as well. Real schnapps, not the candy-flavored crap that is used to make girlie drinks.

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