Liquor store construction in Asheville continues apace

Jason Sandford January 26, 2009

Jason Sandford is a reporter, writer, blogger and photographer interested in all things Asheville.

I noted in a blog post several weeks ago that there was a new liquor store planned for Leicester Highway. I took a photo of the location, where construction was just beginning.

Little did I know that I was on to a literal liquor store construction boom in Asheville. In this blog post at the Mountain Xpress, I note more of the activity:

The Asheville Board of Alcoholic Control recently decided that a new liquor store in Weaverville would be located at the Northridge Commons shopping center, according to the Weaverville Tribune. … And down in Fletcher, there’s concern about a new ABC store planned for Hendersonville Road, according to the Pisgah Mountain News. Fletcher officials fear the new store could deplete revenue from the liquor store on Airport Road.

And that’s not all. There’s a new liquor store under construction on Tunnel Road, in the neighborhood of Hooters.

That’s four new stores under construction in Asheville — right now. When is the last time Asheville saw that kind of construction of new liquor stores?

What’s going on? I saw a reference to a “five-year plan” on the part of the local ABC Board, but what is that plan? Why are so many new liquor stores being built around Asheville? What is the local ABC Board’s budget, and where does all the money go? All I remember about the Asheville ABC Board was an embezzlement scandal a few years ago.

Somebody, please jump on this story.

Jason Sandford

Jason Sandford is a reporter, writer, blogger and photographer interested in all things Asheville.

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7 Comments

B Smart January 29, 2009

If Weaverville gets a liqour store, fine. I don’t really care either way. But I sure hope they don’t put up a sign like the gaudy, no-class one in Woodfin. It just reinforces the stereotypes people have about Woodfin.

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Yo mama.. January 26, 2009

Lottery tickets and Liquor the best cure for a depressed economy. Again, making the rich richer and the poor poorer.

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Ash January 26, 2009

Reporter Mark Barrett answers the call in today’s Citizen-Times. His story answers all my questions, and notes one other liquor store in the works, this one out in Reynolds on Old Charlotte Highway.

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Frank Merenda January 26, 2009

I don’t know what the deal is, but I *DO* know that this makes me so happy it brings a tear to my eye…and a sharp pain to my liver. 🙂

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TJK January 26, 2009

This is the ACT headline news. Holy crap….

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i cant tell you January 26, 2009

i suppose alcohol is one of the things we not only refuse to skimp on in times of economic uncertainty, but it seems to be something we actually need more of (yet we don’t want to go to a bar to pay for) !

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Gratuitous January 26, 2009

Could it be the economy? I don’t know for sure, but don’t more people turn to mind-and-soul-numbing substances for comfort and escape when they’re out of work? I’m somewhat certain that if I was down to my last few dollars, the siren call of booze just might prevail. Perhaps the ABC’s number-crunching experts are telling them that now is the time for expansion. I love my state, but this is potentially as exploitative as the Lottery. Life sucks? Let me calm you and offer hope…

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