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“Open” signs in the three Louisburg liquor stores were seen this past Sunday for the first time. City council members unanimously adopted Sunday liquor sales Nov. 18, with it taking effect 61 days later, Jan. 31.
City Administrator Jeff Cantrell said it was clear to council members that after enough customers expressed they were inconvenienced when purchasing alcohol on Sundays, by traveling to surrounding stores in the area, that it was time for a change.
“I don’t know that it’ll have a significant impact,” Cantrell said of the sales, “it’s highly proprietary, so we won’t know if it does. But it was clear that a credible, segemented group wanted to shop local if they could do so. And now that’s a possibility.”
But one liquor store owner still holds the opposite opinion of the Sunday sales.
Owner of The Liquor Depot, 1006 S. Metcalf Road, Larry Harrell, vehemently opposed the passing of Sunday liquor sales in November when it was first discussed.
After being open for five hours on Sunday, Harrell said his views haven’t changed much.
“I had fourteen customers,” he said. “We’ll see what happens when the weather gets warmer. Buisness is tough now no matter what.”
Harrell added that he’s contemplated not being open on Sunday, but added that the decision would be like putting money in the pockets of his competitors.
To try and beef up sale opportunities, Harrell said products in the entire store are 10 percent off on Sundays.
“I’m going as far as I can without going broke,” he said. “It’s no one’s fault, though. It’s not just Louisburg either, it’s the entire liquor industry.”
Although convenience stores like Dominator Fuels, 115 Harvest Drive, operate a little differently than liquor stores, they are also now able to sell their selection of alcohol on Sundays.
Brenda Stiles, manager of Dominator Fuels, said the first Sunday for her went well.
“I had good feedback from everyone that came in,” she said.
Stiles and Cantrell both mentioned Super Bowl Sunday quickly approaching, with Stiles hoping most of her customers would take the opportunity to purchase alcohol Sunday.
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