Only Three stores - nowlin's, an Idalou gas station and a growing beer and wine spot in Wolfforth - have sought and received permits to sell alcohol in the two months since voters approved countywide alcohol sales. A lawsuit filed by co-owners of the strip, the only legal spot for liquor in Lubbock County for decades, has blocked new alcohol permits in city limits since may. Business owners said high expenses and low traffic outside city limits may discourage county sales.
Only Three stores - nowlin's, an Idalou gas station and a growing beer and wine spot in Wolfforth - have sought and received permits to sell alcohol in the two months since voters approved countywide alcohol sales. A lawsuit filed by co-owners of the strip, the only legal spot for liquor in Lubbock County for decades, has blocked new alcohol permits in city limits since may. Business owners said high expenses and low traffic outside city limits may discourage county sales.
Only Three stores - nowlin's, an Idalou gas station and a growing beer and wine spot in Wolfforth - have sought and received permits to sell alcohol in the two months since voters approved countywide alcohol sales. A lawsuit filed by co-owners of the strip, the only legal spot for liquor in Lubbock County for decades, has blocked new alcohol permits in city limits since may. Business owners said high expenses and low traffic outside city limits may discourage county sales.
Only Three stores - nowlin's, an Idalou gas station and a growing beer and wine spot in Wolfforth - have sought and received permits to sell alcohol in the two months since voters approved countywide alcohol sales. A lawsuit filed by co-owners of the strip, the only legal spot for liquor in Lubbock County for decades, has blocked new alcohol permits in city limits since may. Business owners said high expenses and low traffic outside city limits may discourage county sales.
Place in Wolfforth on Few businesses in county to sell alcohol Fresh white lettering an- locked plywood doors. Wednesday under the direction of West @? First appeared on lubbockonlinerom: 941 pm. Wedhexlay. nounced the beer and wine "I really don't want a whole Brownfrom Glazers BY E L L I O T BLACKBURN Nowlin planned to sell to trav- lot of business," Nowlin said Wholesale Distributors. elers along a 'narrow county in a phone interview from the AVALANCHE-JOURNAL road with more farm traffic Texas coast. "That sounds kind The store became the than cars or trucks. of odd. I just want to keep it first in Lubbock County About 30 miles of cotton An antique fuel pump nice and quiet." outside the strip to and sunflower fields away leaned up against the brown Across the hundreds of stock liquor since the from Lubbock city limits, 58- cinderblock building in Mid- miles of Lubbock County free passage of the alcohol year-old Wicker Nowlin won't way, east of his home in Ran- from city delays in the sale of vote in May. worry much about growth or som Canyon, and an amiable competition. mutt stretched out in front of SEE ALCOHOL, PAGE A7 LOCAL
ALCOHOL: New permit ban eqected to end soon
FROM PAGE A1 "We tried to pre-enter this in- company had already taken the ness was brisk but declined to alcohol, interest in new liquor ventory, but there's always little first steps toward a new liquor comment further. Corporate stores has reached a trickle. glitches," Claybrook said. store in Wolfforth. officials did not return two days Three stores - Nowlin's, an The 50-year-old took advan- But the company would focus of calls. Idalou gas station and a growing tage of the lawsuit blocking on new products and real estate Allsup's did not have much beer and wine spot in Wolfforth plans - including his own - to inside Lubbock city limits, he competition. -have sought and received per- set up new stores inside the city said. Matt Kendrick, director of mits to sell alcohol in the two of Lubbock. Rick's was, at least ' Majestic had joined Pinkie's marketing for Hub City Conve- months since voters approved on Wednesday, the only shop Liquor Inc., in the lawsuit that nience stores, said his company countywide alcohol sales. between West Lubbock and the won a temporary restraining was seeking a permit for their Only the Wolfforth permit al- state line where shoppers could order against new businesses store at US 84 and Frankford lows hard liquor sales, creating .find hard alcohol, he said. until August. New Doc's stores Avenue. But he and other con- the county's first package store "I don't know how long that's inside the city could open close venience store man'agers knew since the May 9 vote. going to last - I wouldn't ex- to Thanksgiving, he said. of few others. Maybe there sim- A lawsuit filed by co-owners pect it to be a real long time," The new stores would focus ply weren't enough convenience of The Strip, the only legal spot Claybrook said. "We're going to on spirits and specialty beers stores or customers -outside of for liquor in Lubbock County enjoy it while we can." when they did open. Liquor the city to make the permits for decades, has blocked new Rick's Place has expanded stores would cede much of their urgent, he said. alcohol permits in city limits three times in the two years ' beer and wine sales to grocers "You've got me, man," Kend- since May. Work has nearly since it opened, he said. The and convenience stores, he rick said. finished that will lift the ban on clattering liquor bottles work- said. Nowlin didn't worry much new alcohol permits in Lubbock ers arranged outside his office With that kind of competition about customers. He ran a beer in early August. were just the latest business and little traffic to fight for, own- store in 1990 and expected the But few county businesses move; a second location in ers would have a tough time same, sparse traffic of cyclists, have taken advantage of the gap Southwest Lubbock would come starting up stores too far from motorcycle groups and the oc- between city sales and the rest next. the city, he said. casional migrant worker in gin- of the county. But Claybrook didn't see "You've got to realize that all ning season. Business owners said high much future opening stores of the-population there is re- He just wanted a simple coun- expenses and low traffic outside elsewhere in the county. ally concentrated in the city," try store - no neon, no flash, no city limits may discourage coun- "It's expensive to put one of Lanford said. "You're not going crowds, and no grand plans for a ty sales, keeping city residents these stores in. In order for one to find a whole lot, I don't think, liquor empire. weeks or months away from new of them to be successful, you of interest in permits." "There was a liquor store, options when they want a bottle have to have some type of vol- Neon beer signs buzzed above beer store out there when I of hard liquor. ume," he said. "You just have to coolers at Allsup's in Idalou, was growing up," Nowlin said. Liquor distributors jostled kind of follow along with what where the sudden appearance "I was probably about 14, and for space Wednesday morning your market does." of six packs surprised custom- yeah, I like the old stuff. Don't at Rick's Place in Wolfforth as Claybrook's competitor down ers last week. want anything fancy or new. Do owner Rick Claybrook used a the road had the same ideas. Store employees at the first what I can with what I got." desk calculator to run prices Ben Lanford, president of -and only -convenience store To comment on this story: . on his first sales of tequila and Doc's brand owner Majestic to start offering beer and wine dliottm@-O7668222 whiskey. Liquor Stores Inc., said the since the election said busi- marlemhartz@lubbockmline.comte 766-8753