The natural drought still lingers, but Clarendon long “dry” spell came to an end last Thursday, February 13, with the first package sales of beer since 1902.
More than three months after Donley County voters approved a local option to legalize the sale of alcoholic beverages, Budweiser trucks rolled up to Allsup’s convenience store and Lowe’s Family Center to stock coolers that had been running in anticipation for weeks.
Allsup’s sold the first beer in the city to Billy Curry and Danny Nugent at 11:25 Thursday morning, and sales since then have been brisk, the store says.
“It has been awesome,” said Allsup’s clerk Trish Voyles. “We have been busy every day, and there hasn’t been any problems. Our sales are definitely up, and that’s good for the town.”
Manager Haskell Sorrells said that Friday was Allsup’s busiest day so far and that while alcohol sales have been great, other merchandise is selling better also.
“I’m seeing deli items and lots of other stuff selling more,” Sorrells said. “Customers are excited and have come in whooping and hollering.”
Sorrells said alcohol sales are allowed between 7 a.m. and midnight Monday through Saturday and from noon to midnight on Sunday.
Lowe’s manager Buddy James said sales at his store have been steady and were about what the company expected. The supermarket had its first beer sale about 20 minutes after Allsup’s.
Lowe’s began stocking wine last Friday, and one clerk said she was surprised by how many local people drink wine.
CEFCO’s two Clarendon convenience stores have also applied for beer and wine permits, and state permit applications are pending for two Clarendon restaurants – Bar H BBQ & More and JD SteakOut. The Broken Road Café at Giles and the Bar H Dude Ranch have applied for state permits as well.
Leave a Reply
You must be logged in to post a comment.