In Washington State, BevMo and Total Wine & More are licensed as Specialty Beer/Wine Stores — and they can get a Liquor license. My store is licensed as a Specialty Beer/Wine Store and I am unable to get a Liquor license.
The difference? Building size.
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A few facts, in response to Rep. Hurst's commets on my previous post:
- There are approximately 800 small Specialty Beer/Wine Store retailers licensed in Washington State. Not all of these stores will apply for the Liquor License, if able to do so, and must first undergo application process monitored by the State Liquor Control Board. SSB 5731 places a date cap on which stores would be eligible to apply for Liquor licenses, further narrowing the number.
- There were once over 400 small liquor stores, now there's about 100. By approving a few hundred new small businesses, and ones who specialize ONLY in small Washington crafted spirits, the market is not going to be overrun by alcohol outlets.
- Approximately 50 new small distilleries will be opening in Washington State this year. They do not produce sufficient quantity to be included on the shelves of grocery stores and national liquor chains give little shelf space to local producers. Rep. Hurst admits there will be insufficient shelf space for these local producers, and specialty beer/wine stores have the space and knowledge to promote these products. In fact, Rep. Hurst has worked with small distilleries on getting bills supporting their industry approved, yet he oppose SSB 5731, which would give them retail shelf space.
- Specialty beer/wine store owners are experienced alcohol retailers. We have low incidence of selling to minors and low theft (it's easy to keep an eye on people in a shop that's about 1200-square feet). While it's true we've never sold spirits, we focus on knowing our products and are experts at selling craft beer/wine. This is unlike the inexperienced owners who purchased liquor stores at auction.
- BevMo and Total Wine & More have two core licenses that allow them to sell alcohol in Washington State: "Specialty Beer/Wine Store" and "Liquor." Small businesses such as mine are prevented from applying for a Liquor license because our locations are under 10,000-square-feet.
- The State will have an additional tax revenue stream and more income from the 17% alcohol sales fees.
- Consumers will no longer be forced to buy the majority of their craft spirits from corporate national chains; they will have more ability to "shop local."
- After communicating with other members of the Government Accountability & Oversight committee, it appears that there may be more in agreement than Rep. Hurst indicates. They are being very cautious in expressions of agreement; we are unsure why. These representatives are receiving many emails and phone calls of public support of SSB 5731.
- Rep. Hurst, as committee chairman, has the ability to put SSB 5731 to vote and to approve it. He tells us it is not "prime time" enough for vote. How many small businesses must close to make it "prime time"? As committee chair, he has the ability to entirely stop a bill from progressing simply by stating, "It's not ready." A committee chair has great power; anyone who's taken a government class should know this.
- Rep. Hurst has said he would work with me and other Specialty Beer/Wine Stores approval to sell craft spirits next year. Why not NOW? Without a yes vote this week, more small businesses will close by the end of the year -- and these are businesses simply need a small margin of increased sales to make the difference. This is the second year this bill has gone up for vote; it is the second time that Rep. Hurst won't let it pass out of committee into the House for vote. Why would I trust someone who's already let me, and my fellow small business owners down once, now twice?
How many more of us must go out of business, unable to have a fair playing field against out-of-state multi-billion-dollar liquor corporations? How many small distilleries won't find an audience because they have no retail representation? How many customers must I turn away because I cannot offer the products they request? Rep. Hurst held this same bill in his committee last year. This very bill was inspired and supported by Senator Keiser in effort to help bring neighborhood shoppers back to Corky Cellars in Des Moines, Wash. He held the bill last year, Corky Cellars now rests in peace, but remains in our hearts. Again, this year, his committee holds the bill.
Why is Rep. Hurst so afraid of approving a bill to MOVE INTO THE HOUSE? Committee approval doesn't mean it's automatically a bill. There are still more committees to review the bill before it's even put to a vote. But who is it who is holding it's progress? Rep. Hurst; he alone has the power to move this to vote in his committee.
The State Senate overwhelmingly approved SSB 5731, to give small Specialty Beer/Wine Stores the ability to sell small specialty craft distilled spirits. But it is, now two years in a row, that Rep. Hurst refuses to move this bill out of his committee.
What gives?
It seems fishy. Why would one elected representative refuse to even put a bill out for vote? Is he afraid that it does, indeed, have the votes to pass?
As previously mentioned, the majority of the auctioned state liquor stores have gone out of business. Of those remaining, many are expected to be out of business by the end of this year. They have been in business for a year-and-a-half now and are failing. In our conversation, Rep. Hurst agreed their future is bleak. These former state store owners are not focusing on specialty small-batch spirits like a Specialty Beer/Wine Store would; thus, the argument that we would further harm their plighted-state is null.
Anyone in the health industry would tell you that the essentials of triage are as follows: The determine the priority of patients' treatments based on the severity of their condition. Though it initially sounds cold, you don't treat the person who is on their deathbead, with no ability to recover, first. You make them comfortable, you give them your sympathies. But you treat those who are worst off but most likely to recover first. If holding out for sympathies of the auctioned liquor stores, it's like treating the dying patients first. Struggling Specialty Beer/Wine Stores are operating on a slim margin that just needs a slight boost, the boost that the ability to support small Washington distilleries offers.
It's too late for Corky Cellars. It's too late for The Grape Adventure. It's too late for many other Specialty Beer/Wine Stores who so faithfully served their neighborhoods for years. But it's not too late for all small Specialty Beer/Wine Stores.
Don't make us prime time news after we're gone.
Tell Rep. Hurst and members of his committee that you support SSB 5731. Tell them you don't want to be limited to buying Washington products at corporate retailers. Tell them you support small Washington businesses.
SSB 5731 makes sense.
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Rep. Hurst says he will not bring SSB 5731 up for vote.
We've called him out on non-support of small Specialty Beer/Wine Stores two years in a row.
All that can be done now is to leave it in the people's hands.
Please call and email if you support small business:
EMAIL – EMAIL – EMAIL!
PHONE CALL – PHONE CALL – PHONE CALL!
NOW – NOW – NOW!
Email – ASAP
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To: christopher.hurst@leg.wa.gov,sharon.wylie@leg.wa.gov, cary.condotta@leg.wa.gov, jeff.holy@leg.wa.gov, brian.blake@leg.wa.gov,steve.kirby@leg.wa.gov, luis.moscoso@leg.wa.gov, matt.shea@leg.wa.gov, brandon.vick@leg.wa.gov
Find out what's happening in Bonney Lake-Sumnerwith free, real-time updates from Patch.
Subject: Vote ESSB 5731 out of committee
Text:
Dear Representatives,
I shop at specialty beer/wine stores and demand that these businesses be treated fairly in Washington State. Specialty beer/wine stores should be able to attain a license to sell liquor regardless of building size. Stop the corporate favortism. Allow small specialty beer/wine stores to carry craft spirits. Please vote YES on ESSB 5731 and move it out of committee this week.
Sincerely, [YOUR NAME, ADDRESS, PHONE]
Phone – ASAP
Rep. Chris Hurst (360-786-7866)
Rep. Sharon Wylie (360-786-7924)
Rep. Cary Condotta (360-786-7954)
Rep. Jeff Holy (360-786-7962)
Rep. Steve Kirby (360-786-7996)
Rep. Luis Moscoso (360-786-7900)
Rep. Matt Shea(360-786-7984)
Rep. Brandon Vick (360-786-7850) - Rep. Vick says he's on board!
Rep. Brian Blake (360-786-7870) – Rep. Blake is on board! Please thank him!