PORT TOWNSEND — While many liquor stores were able to open immediately after privatization took effect June 1, licensing issues delayed the opening of the former state-owned store at 2005 East Sims Way until this week.
The store — whose license was won by a bid by Kulbir Singh of Brazil, Ind., and which opened Tuesday — is managed by Tom Headley, who is the only employee remaining from when the store was state-owned.
Headley, who has worked at the store for 23 years, hired three new employees.
The store is open from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Mondays through Saturdays.
The stock at the Port Townsend store is the same as before and was purchased by the new owner, Headley said.
The only difference, he added, is that prices have gone up.
Voters last fall approved Initiative 1183, which led to the state’s dismantling of its liquor business.
Before the change, the state liquor store was the only place in Port Townsend that sold spirits.
Now it now faces competition from Safeway and QFC.
Headley said the store may run specials that undercut supermarket prices. He believes many people prefer buying from a liquor store rather than a grocery chain.
According to Headley, many outlets do not display the full price that includes taxes.
State-owned liquor operations in Port Angeles, Port Townsend and Sequim were among the 167 sold in a statewide auction.
Singh was the winning bidder for licenses at nine state liquor stores — including the Port Townsend store and the formerly state-owned store in Sequim.
He paid $54,900 for the license of the Port Townsend liquor store and $63,200 for the one at the Sequim liquor store located at 1400 W. Washington St.
Abi Eshagi of Woodinville paid $125,100 for the license for the Port Angeles liquor store, 1331 E. Front St.
In addition to Port Townsend and Sequim stores, Singh bought the licenses of stores in Federal Way, Renton, Tacoma, Bellevue, Oak Harbor and Spokane, at a total cost of more than $1.4 million.
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Jefferson County Reporter Charlie Bermant can be reached at 360-385-2335 or charlie.bermant@peninsuladailynews.com.
