Sunday liquor sales begin

By 2 p.m. Sunday, sales at Flintridge House of Spirits, 4779 Flintridge Drive, had outpaced a normal Monday.

That's not saying much.

"I can't say it's been the busiest day," said Gunnar Westrich, minding the register for his boss, who isn't convinced Sunday liquor sales will be worth keeping the lights on for but will give it a shot for awhile anyway.

Westrich was among the dozens of liquor store employees who reported for work Sunday - the first time liquor has been sold legally in Colorado in at least seven decades.

The Prohibition-era ban was lifted this year by the Legislature after religious conservatives opposed to Sunday liquor sales on moral grounds and liquor-store owners who wanted one day off per week relented.

One of those is Song Lee, owner of Neighbors Liquor and Wine, 5044 N. Academy Blvd., who says he now has to work seven days a week.

"People like it, but you work a lot of hours," he said. Although he said business was slow, three customers set off the entry chimes within a 10-minute span.

Lee said he's willing to stay open if it means postponing grocery and convenience stores getting liquor licenses. Now they're limited to low-alcohol beer sales.

Supermarkets and convenience stores lobbied this year to be allowed to sell strong spirits but were turned away.

Still, some haven't given up. A Colorado Petroleum Marketers and Convenience Store Association official has said members will be tracking how much Sunday beer sales drop because of the Sunday liquor sales measure.

Not everyone feels pressure to stay open. Westrich said several stores in his area didn't open Sunday.

"It's the only day off they have to spend with their families," he said. "Giving up that day off is a hardship."

Westrich said a third of those drifting into his place did so for the novelty of it.

"A lot of people say, ‘I only came in because I can,'" he said. If the newness wears off and the sales drop, Westrich said his boss isn't likely to open on Sundays.

At Cheers Liquor Mart, 1105 N. Circle Dr., Courtney Wheeler was among three manning the registers as an occasional shopper stocked up.

Describing the traffic as "steady," she said Cheers is happy to say open.

"It helps our customers out," she said. "Anything to make them happy."

One of those was Dino Vaughn, who cruised up to the door riding a Harley and bearing a thirst.

"I think it's a good idea," said Vaughn, who planned to grab some beer.

"Sunday's been my day off for eight years," he added. "It helps me, because I don't have to plan on going (to a liquor store) after work on other days."