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Extended liquor store hours hurt private cold beer and wine stores

Sunday openings in Whistler may be here for the long run
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The 2010 Olympics may be the catalyst for allowing Whistler's provincial liquor stores to open on Sundays but it's a surprise decision that may stick in the long term.

And that will have devastating effects on the three private cold beer and wine stores in Whistler, some of which have had their licences for a decade and a half.

The provincial government's recent move caught them completely unawares, with no prior consultation or notice and has left them steaming mad.

"Totally betrayed," said Karen Roland, of Roland's Creekside Pub and Beer and Wine Store.

"This is just undermining the small business in Whistler."

Already, since the government liquor stores opened for business on Sunday, Dec. 6, the private stores have seen a marked decline in their business.

"The first Sunday I would say right off the bat it probably knocked 10 to 20 per cent off (sales) and that was without anyone knowing about it or it being announced," said Andrew Ellott, owner of the Nester's Liquor Store. "But over the course of the next few weeks it could potentially take half of our Sunday business away, if not more. And Sunday is such a big day for us. You can't underestimate (it) when you're the only place around that can sell, it's a big part of our business. If it wasn't for Sunday, you really couldn't survive."

All three private liquor store owners were under the assumption early this week that the government's decision was a Games-time decision, designed to meet the burgeoning need of the 55,000 guests expected here each night during the Olympics.

But according to the B.C. Liquor Distribution Branch, there is no timeline yet on ending the new hours or service. No one at the LDB was available for comment.

MLA Joan McIntyre said her understanding is the new hours will remain in effect beyond the Games. As Whistler's stature is enhanced with the 2010 Games, she said, the resort has to meet the expectations of its clientele.

"I was told pretty clearly that the decision was made because Whistler is one of the most high profile tourism destinations in all of North America, catering to an international clientele," McIntyre said. "And with 2010 coming up and our image and our profile being enhanced by that... that basically the rationale was that tourists from around the world would be expecting in a town like Whistler... the convenience of being able to shop for those kinds of product seven days a week."

When told that Sunday openings could be here to stay, Roland said that news was very worrisome.

This past Sunday her business was down 30 per cent.

"If they decide to open on Sunday's on a regular basis then what's to stop them from staying open until 11 o'clock seven days a week, and then what's to stop them from opening on the holidays as well?" asked Roland. "If they do that, they'll put my liquor store out of business."

The three owners have appealed to mayor and council and McIntyre. They are hoping to have a meeting with Rich Coleman, minister of housing and social development.

This week, however, Mayor Ken Melamed said he shared the view that having the provincial liquor stores open seven days a week would enhance customer service though, like the private liquor store owners, mayor and council were also not aware of the government's decision until after the fact.

"The principle that I would apply to this decision is: we ask ourselves what's in the best interests of the resort community and customer service given that that's what our mantra is?" asked the mayor. "Opening the liquor stores seems to be consistent and in line with that - providing more selection, better price, excellent, dependable service."

As to the local business owners who might suffer because of it, Melamed said they still fill a niche in Whistler.

"They exist to serve a niche part of the market and they'll still continue to do that," said the mayor. "It's like any other business, they modify their business plans to provide the kind of customer service that brings customers."

McIntyre also pointed out that one government liquor store, the village store, has been open on Sunday's for a couple of years. By allowing the Marketplace store and the Creekside store to open too, it makes the playing field consistent in Whistler.

The three private owners have been in contact with ABLE BC, a 600-strong member organization representing all liquor licenses in B.C. The group has already met with Minister Coleman on the issue and the official response at that time was that the new hours are to accommodate the Olympic business.

"At this time we've been informed that it's just opening to meet what they felt was going to be an increased demand in the Whistler area and they wanted to be part of that market," said ABLE BC president Al McCreary.

"I think the problem is that I think partially because of convenience service, the private stores are taking a larger share of the market and I'm not sure if some of this is just some pushback from the government. But we don't know. As I said, they didn't consult us.

"I guess the frustrating part from the rest of the liquor LRS's (Licensee Retail Stores) in the province is that any time we want to do anything we have to ask or notify people of proposed changes in hours whereas the government can just do this with no consultation at all - all of a sudden they were open."

Despite the 11 th hour change of plans, Michael Kompass, owner of the Blackcomb Liquor Store, said they would have to adapt their business plans accordingly.

Already, he has laid off one staff member due to the Sunday competition.

He has stockpiled orders for 2010 based on a certain level of traffic he expects in his store over the Games.

"We've been spending, which was not based on this surprise change," said Kompass. "We have to face that. We have to deal with it. The liquor board is a business also and they want to make money and I can't fault them for that. It just would have been nice if there had been some sort of notification or consultation or something.

"Hopefully we can operate more of a co-operative arrangement as opposed to a combative position that we're in right now."