FB: Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference

Kilted Rat · July 14, 2006, 01:13:22 PM

Quote from: tmerton on July 14, 2006, 12:29:02 AM
When I was in school in Austin, TX, they had a drive-through liquor store. You pulled up, told 'em how many kegs or cases you needed, and they brought it right out and loaded it in your car. I seem to remember one of these in Norman, OK as well. Not a bad deal.

Still, I'd like to know about the product mix and all that. Fins showed us a Cost Plus in St. Cloud that had a pretty good selection of good wine. I suspect the profit margin on beer and liquor is respectable but not great, while wine might be higher. What's the market like, Fins?

I'm in if this has legs.

We have drive-through liquor stores in Ohio, many are known for not checking sobriety or legal age before completing a sale. Others will let it go if you say you're "buying for dad."
*KR may or may not have tested these theories and may or may not have found them to be accurate

Mrs KR just brought up a good point, make sure we do 100% ID checks and such to make sure the Liquor License isn't lost in the first month. Fins, what's the rules on out of state fakes? Can you get busted if you accept one because you don't know whether its a fake or not?
MrsKR says theres some books out there that have every state and show how to tell real from fake, sounds like a good investment for ass-covering purposes.

Quote from: BlueDevil Bob on July 14, 2006, 10:46:45 AM
I googled up 3 for sale:

Hackenmuellers Liquor in Albertville

Westside Liquors in St Cloud

Westside Discount Liquors in Waite Park (same one?)

Anybody familiar with these?

The Westsides are different stores, funny thing is the Westside liquor in Waite Park is on the east side of waite park and Westside in St Cloud is on the East side of the river.

As previously mentioned the one in Waite Park is pretty new and rather large. Only potential problem is there is a Cashwise Liquor a block away in the same parking lot as a Cashwise grocery store that is more accessible from major roadways. This could be why they're getting out of it.

finsleft · July 14, 2006, 01:24:41 PM

Westside started on Little Falls' west side, hence the name. They should change it because it does sound stupid when you say you're going to the east side Westside. THey just opened up a new store in Albertville, too.

Fakes are a big problem but most in the business, particularly the bouncers, are better at detecting them than the cops. Problem is, as Ritz will attest, they use 'em to get in, or to buy, but then when/if questioned by authorities they don't have it and say they weren't ever checked. You almost need a recording of the transaction.
It's kinda like squeezing a balloon. They change the ID's, the entrepeneurs change the fakes.

Touchdown Tommy · July 14, 2006, 01:27:00 PM

BDB: Didn't you post your company website on Post Patterns a few months ago? If so, could you repost that as I and perhaps many others would like to take a look.

KR: Think we could hire SJU Valedvictorian (sp?) cirica 2K4 John Pach to do the accounting?? I am guessing ROR is pretty busy selling software to unsuspecting souls in the Twin Cities.

I have just one major concern regarding the store. I am under the distinct impression that to "win" in the Twin Cities liquor store business you must be BIG and hence have name recognition with most customers who then turn into repeat customers. The large stores ala MGM, Surdyks, Northside, G-Wills, etc. are able to get an even greater price break from the distributors bc they are buying in such large quantities each week and are then able to pass that savings on to the consumer...Now maybe the greater St. Cloud area is more fragmented in this respect, I don't know for sure. Fins could you do some research on this hypothesis from TDT and report back to Post Patterns. BDB-could you weigh in on this to the best of your knowledge?

Touchdown Tommy · July 14, 2006, 01:29:40 PM

Sidenote: Fins I think it is mandatory to have a state of the art security system inside and outside of the establishment as my bud KR can attest he was involved in some rather rebelious activities outside many of the liquor stores in Stearns County during his time in Cville (care to share KR, I think the statute of limitations has run out on you...

)

BDB · July 14, 2006, 01:36:17 PM

TDT here it is: www.bobandsteves.com

BDB · July 14, 2006, 01:54:13 PM

TDT, I just saw your other question to me.

In Wiscy it is illegal for wholesalers to charge different prices to different retailers, no matter what the size.

It's also illegal to offer different payment terms. In fact, state law stipulates that beer invoices have to be paid in 15 days and liquor and wine in 30 days.

So, over here anyway it's a level playing field. One of our legal guys in Minny will have to check out state laws there.

janesvilleflash · July 14, 2006, 02:51:09 PM

As I suspected, things are getting a little out of hand. BDB, who has a successful chain of similar businesses, probably doesn't need much "advice" on how to set up and run a bussiness of this type. As I said before, IF this gets beyond the talk stage, and IF BDB is in charge, I would be willing to run the info by my accountant, and get in if it's feasable. The money isn't an issue, it's how it could work for me taxwise etc..

sumander · July 14, 2006, 03:02:36 PM

Quote from: janesvilleflash on July 14, 2006, 02:51:09 PM
As I suspected, things are getting a little out of hand. BDB, who has a successful chain of similar businesses, probably doesn't need much "advice" on how to set up and run a bussiness of this type. As I said before, IF this gets beyond the talk stage, and IF BDB is in charge, I would be willing to run the info by my accountant, and get in if it's feasable. The money isn't an issue, it's how it could work for me taxwise etc..

JF That sounds like a Banker talking!

BDB · July 14, 2006, 03:14:10 PM

Quote from: janesvilleflash on July 14, 2006, 02:51:09 PM
As I suspected, things are getting a little out of hand. BDB, who has a successful chain of similar businesses, probably doesn't need much "advice" on how to set up and run a bussiness of this type. As I said before, IF this gets beyond the talk stage, and IF BDB is in charge, I would be willing to run the info by my accountant, and get in if it's feasable. The money isn't an issue, it's how it could work for me taxwise etc..

Way to commit, Flash!!

Seriously though, we only have 5 people that have signed on, so I am thinking the time just hasn't come yet.

Sometimes these deals take a while to develop.

tmerton · July 14, 2006, 03:16:44 PM

Quote from: finsleft on July 14, 2006, 09:55:06 AM
tmerton- the place I took you to was the World Market store, which, to my surprise, had a pretty decent wine selection. As BDB said, good margins on wine, beer you make up on volume.

Fins, you may call it World Market, but anyone who lives out here knows it by its original name, Cost Plus (which you can still see on the banner over its name on its website).

A little history on Cost Plus and its origins here in SF.

I'm not sure how long it's been selling wine and beer, but as you say it does have a pretty good selection as well as good prices.

tmerton · July 14, 2006, 03:19:46 PM

Quote from: BlueDevil Bob on July 14, 2006, 03:14:10 PM
Quote from: janesvilleflash on July 14, 2006, 02:51:09 PM
As I suspected, things are getting a little out of hand. BDB, who has a successful chain of similar businesses, probably doesn't need much "advice" on how to set up and run a bussiness of this type. As I said before, IF this gets beyond the talk stage, and IF BDB is in charge, I would be willing to run the info by my accountant, and get in if it's feasable. The money isn't an issue, it's how it could work for me taxwise etc..

Way to commit, Flash!!

Seriously though, we only have 5 people that have signed on, so I am thinking the time just hasn't come yet.

Sometimes these deals take a while to develop.

Five people in 24 hours isn't bad, Bob. Fins can probably get his ex-wife to come in, and

... well, anyway, the guys in MN should be able to scare up some interest. Give 'em a chance.

BDB · July 14, 2006, 03:23:00 PM

tmerton, you are right.

Now lemme clean my keyboard off after laughing spit all over it with your fins ex-wife comment.

sumander · July 14, 2006, 03:57:26 PM

Count me in. All I have to do is divert one of Sum Jr's tution payments and I am good to go!

janesvilleflash · July 14, 2006, 04:14:27 PM

Does TDT have a dark ski mask?
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/13834117/

finsleft · July 14, 2006, 04:34:57 PM

Just because I've given her all MY money, doesn't mean she still has it. My money PLUS hers and she still has credit problems.
Plus, she'd probably try to talk people out of buying our wares. Like, maybe instead of all 12 beers, maybe you should just buy 6 of the 7 ouncers here. The bottles are sooo cute, aren't they? Plus, you'd feel so much better in the morning and I know your wife wants you to clean the basement and the garage tomorrow.

Alright, nuff. Funny thought but, just us guys please.