Alcohol Sales Brisk On First Day

Barb Trusty, general manager for Kum & Go store No. 408, sorts through cases of beer Wednesday, Jan. 16, 2013, while getting her store on East Central Avenue in Bentonville stocked and ready to sell the alcoholic beverages beginning at 7 a.m. Thursday.

Barb Trusty, general manager for Kum & Go store No. 408, sorts through cases of beer Wednesday, Jan. 16, 2013, while getting her store on East Central Avenue in Bentonville stocked and ready to sell the alcoholic beverages beginning at 7 a.m. Thursday.

Friday, January 18, 2013

— Advocates of liquor sales spent $703,039 to legalize retail alcohol sales in Benton County in November. On Thursday, it cost Eric Alderete $6.99 to buy a six-pack of Bud Light at a Bentonville gasoline station.

Thursday was the first day grocery and convenience stores with approved beer and wine permits could begin selling beer and wine after residents voted the county wet Nov. 6. Kum & Go and Walmart stores were the first to begin selling, starting at 7 a.m.

Other stores with permits approved by the state’s Alcoholic Beverage Control Division on Wednesday were awaiting delivery and making room in coolers Thursday.

Alderete lives in Bentonville and said he appreciates the convenience of buying alcohol in his hometown.

“It’s definitely convenient, especially on Fridays,” he said. “I won’t have to drive to Springdale or Missouri.”

Mark Myer, regional manager for Kum & Go, said Thursday afternoon sales were “brisk” at his eight stores in the county.

Walmart installed coolers at its Supercenters, Neighborhood Markets and an Express store to make way for beer and wine. Daniel Morales, director of communications for Walmart, said the company looks forward to offering the new products to customers.

Gary Abshere made two trips to the Kum & Go on Hudson Road in Rogers to buy beer. He stopped in Wednesday after spotting a “Beer available now” sign on the side of the building.

“When we came in from work yesterday we saw the sign up, but it wasn’t ready yet,” he said Thursday.

He came back Thursday after work to buy his beer. He said he is glad to keep his money in the county.

Tia Dunham of Rogers said a wet Benton County will save her money. She estimates she spends $10 in gasoline to drive to Springdale to buy beer.

“Instead of $18, it’ll only cost $8,” she said, pointing to beer chilling in the cooler.

Keep Dollars in Benton County launched in February to end a dry spell in the county dating back to World War II. The group raised $702,039 during nine months to place the question of alcohol sales on the Nov. 6 ballot.

The organization dissolved in December after the successful drive. Marshall Ney, spokesman for the group, said Thursday was a significant day in the history of Benton County.

“I am pleased to see the process moving forward so smoothly,” Ney said. “Our group dissolved because we felt it was time for the private sector to take over. Today we see that happening.”

Amye Buckley contributed to this report.