Sunday Liquor Sales Begin in Springdale
By: Rebecca Jeffrey, KNWA-TV, Fayetteville
Updated: November 26, 2012
Sunday liquor sales have started in Springdale, just weeks after getting voter approval.
"It's a big day for Springdale, there's going to be liquor stores open for the first time," Springdale Liquor Association President and owner of seven liquor stores, Jim Phillips said.
Sunday sales are making a splash as customers enjoy the convenience of shopping local.
"We opened at 12 and there was a line in the drive thru halfway to the highway and the parking lot was about half full and I think people were excited," County Line employee, Cathy Lease said.
Lease has been working at County Line Liquor store in Springdale for more than five years, She says her customers have been waiting.
"We always have a mad last minute rush every Saturday night at closing time. Everybody's excited about us being open on Sundays," Lease said.
The open doors mean there's no more driving to Missouri to get liquor on Sunday.
"I think it'll save people on gas and time to go to the state line and I think it's made a lot of our customers very happy," Lease said.
Sunday liquor sales are also expected to boost the local economy.
"There'll be a lot more sales tax dollars that'll come in and we think it'll bring in people from other places to come here and buy liquor and at the same time they'll probably stop and get something to eat," Phillips said.
"I think it'll keep the revenue in the county, keep people from going to Missouri on Sunday, the county might as well benefit from the sales of liquor," said Floyd Pollock, a County Line customer.
Even with seven days of sales, Benton and Madison counties are going wet, so Phillips is preparing for a slight drop in business.
"Going wet won't effect us until they start to have stores up there and then we'll see our sales go down, we expect that," he said.
But Phillips hopes the schedule change will not only keep his current customers but bring in new ones from around Northwest Arkansas.
"I think with the Sunday sales some of those people will continue to come here on Sunday and we might get some business from other towns around," Phillips said.
Click here to watch this report.
"It's a big day for Springdale, there's going to be liquor stores open for the first time," Springdale Liquor Association President and owner of seven liquor stores, Jim Phillips said.
Sunday sales are making a splash as customers enjoy the convenience of shopping local.
"We opened at 12 and there was a line in the drive thru halfway to the highway and the parking lot was about half full and I think people were excited," County Line employee, Cathy Lease said.
Lease has been working at County Line Liquor store in Springdale for more than five years, She says her customers have been waiting.
"We always have a mad last minute rush every Saturday night at closing time. Everybody's excited about us being open on Sundays," Lease said.
The open doors mean there's no more driving to Missouri to get liquor on Sunday.
"I think it'll save people on gas and time to go to the state line and I think it's made a lot of our customers very happy," Lease said.
Sunday liquor sales are also expected to boost the local economy.
"There'll be a lot more sales tax dollars that'll come in and we think it'll bring in people from other places to come here and buy liquor and at the same time they'll probably stop and get something to eat," Phillips said.
"I think it'll keep the revenue in the county, keep people from going to Missouri on Sunday, the county might as well benefit from the sales of liquor," said Floyd Pollock, a County Line customer.
Even with seven days of sales, Benton and Madison counties are going wet, so Phillips is preparing for a slight drop in business.
"Going wet won't effect us until they start to have stores up there and then we'll see our sales go down, we expect that," he said.
But Phillips hopes the schedule change will not only keep his current customers but bring in new ones from around Northwest Arkansas.
"I think with the Sunday sales some of those people will continue to come here on Sunday and we might get some business from other towns around," Phillips said.
Click here to watch this report.
