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Home » I-1183 brings alcohol super stores to Washington State

I-1183 brings alcohol super stores to Washington State

Submitted by Administrator on Sat, 09/22/2012 - 16:36

From Puget Sound Business Journal

With its Bellevue location booming and others about to open in Tukwila and Spokane, Total Wine & More has only begun its expansion into Washington. The liquor, wine and beer mega retailer has plans for at least 10 stores in the state, a spokesman said Friday.

"Our real estate people say there's potential for somewhere between 10 and 13 stores for us in Washington state. Who knows, there may be more," said Edward Cooper, vice president for public affairs and community relations.

The Tukwila store is scheduled to open Sept. 20 at 300 Andover Park West, across from Southcenter shopping mall, followed by a Spokane store later this year. Tukwila, No. 85, will have Total Wine & More's characteristic big inventory -- more than 8,000 wines, 3,000 spirits and 2,500 beers. Alderwood, Federal Way, Olympia and Silverdale were announced as future sites earlier this week.

The Bellevue Total Wine & More opened in late June, with the onset of private liquor sales in Washington. Cooper declined to give numbers but described sales there as "phenomenal" and on track to rank among the top five among the group's 84 stores nationwide.

Cooper said sales in Bellevue have exceeded the group's projections, but that statewide expansion was planned before those results were in. Total Wine & More had Washington in its sights when Initiative 1183 passed last November, mandating that private liquor sales replace the state-controlled system on June 1.

"We always knew privatization was going to be about choices for the consumer," Cooper said. "With our mix of choice, low prices and quality service, we knew Washington would be viable for us."

Its closest competitors, sizewise, in the Seattle area market are locally owned Wine World and Spirits in Wallingford and BevMo!, which has stores in Silverdale and Tacoma and plans to open more, including one in Tukwila on Sept. 28. The Sauced blog reported that BevMo! has also filed aliquor  license application for 840 NW 45th St. in Ballard.