Liquor Store Closure

by Wayne Moore - Story: 25133Dec. 20, 2006 Castanet
Some Kelowna residents are up in arms over the pending closure of their neighbourhood liquor store. The Liquor Distribution Branch has announced the government liquor outlet at Gordon and Harvey will close for good Saturday, December 30. The closure is makes room for a larger Signature Store set to open in the Mission. Residents have organized a protest Thursday to voice their displeasure. BCGEU vice-chairperson, Margie Simmons, welcomes the protest. She hopes it will prompt the government to reverse its decision, something she says has happened on two previous occasions. "In Kamloops, the store was actually closed, then re-opened because of public demand. A store in Esquimalt slated for closure will also remain open," says Simmons. She says the closure means as many as 10 casual employees will lose their jobs, while the five full time staff members are being placed in other Kelowna outlets. Simmons says the real losers are the consumers. "There's eight seniors complexes in that neighbourhood and a lot of those people don't drive." Liquor Distribution Branch General Manager, Jay Chamber, previously told Castanet that private liquor stores could adequately pick up the slack left by the closure of government outlets. There is a private store across the street from the current government branch. "What he failed to mention," says Simmons, "is that private beer and wine stores charge up to 30% more for their products and they don't have the same selection. Thursday's rally takes place at noon outside the liquor store at Harvey and Gordon.