The new state-run liquor store across the street from Dick’s (2nd Ave. NE and N. 45th Street) will open in two weeks as planned, just before Memorial Day weekend. We’ve heard from neighbors in that area that some are concerned they’ll see an increase in vagrants in search of cheap booze and an increase in crime.
Neighbors’ worries about vagrants focus on the alcohol impact area that encompasses the University District and ends at Latona Ave. N. in Wallingford. West of there, stores are allowed to sell high-alcohol, low-cost beverages.
Anne Radford at the Washington State Liquor Control Board told us that the new store will carry the typical state liquor store catalog, plus a large selection of wine. She said that the stores don’t typically sell the drinks that appear on the list of beer, malt and wine products that have been prohibited for sale in the alcohol impact area.
Seattle Police Department spokesperson Mark Jamieson said he wouldn’t expect an increase in crime or vagrancy in the area. “It’s been our experience that people go to the state-run liquor stores for specific purpose, they go and they leave,” he said. “The state-run liquor store isn’t the problem with underage sales or vagrants. That’s more of a problem at smaller stores.” Jamieson added, “I would think the community is better off with a business and occupied building rather than a vacant building or lot.”
The liquor store will open its doors on May 28. It will be open Monday to Thursday, 10 a.m. to 8 p.m, and Friday and Saturday, 10 a.m. to 9 p.m.
We’d like to hear from you. Are you concerned about the impact of the new liquor store on the neighborhood? Are you just pleased to have a closer option than Ballard or U Village? Comment below or send us a note at tips@mywallingford.com.
just glad to have somewhere closer than Ballard. I used to go into or past the old Wallingford liquor store regularly, and it’s my experience that liquor stores are not a hotbed of crime any more than your local grocery store is a hotbed of crime.
This is the most ridiculous pseudo-complaint I’ve ever heard. It’s just a store, people, just a store. 99.99% of the people it attracts are nice, normal, polite, well-off white people just like you, so get your Wallingford panties unbunched and let people live their lives. Jesus.
This is a commercial street with an average of one tavern every two blocks, and some silly (probably teetotal) “neighbors” are whining about a legitimate business? The state stores don’t sell the kind of stuff that is a little problematic in some areas anyway. I would submit that the only possible problem with this store is that there doesn’t seem to be any parking.
There appear to be approx. 15 parking spaces on the perimeter of the lot: http://bit.ly/db2M8K
I am just glad to have a closer option for a liquor store again. The drive to Ballard isn’t that bad. . .if you go at the right time of day! But this will be great. I never noticed a problem with vagrants when the liquor store was down on Stone Way; shouldn’t be a problem at this location.
I don’t think it will attract more crime. It doesn’t sell the cheap stuff that the transients look to buy.