California based BevMo! will be the first alcohol box store to move into Silverdale following the June 1 enactment of Initiative 1183 which ended state control of liquor sales in Washington.
Although BevMo! has encountered resistance from other retailers in the past, local liquor retailers have expressed little concern over the entry of the alcohol super-store into the area.
The establishment, located at 3126 NW Randall Way in Silverdale, is a 12,000-square-foot store selling wines, spirits and beers as well as gourmet food items.
Beverages and More joins retailers, such as Safeway, Red Apple and Walmart to begin liquor sales but is the first of its size to focus primarily on alcohol sales in the area.
BevMo! was founded in 1994 and has expanded to more than 100 stores in California, Arizona and now Washington.
The retailer’s rapid growth has not come without controversy. Citizens and retailers in places such as Menlo Park, Calif. have fought the retailer citing unfair competition to smaller retailers. However, local liquor retailers said they had little or no issue with the retailer. Duane Vickery, manager of the Silverdale Safeway, said he welcomed the large liquor retailer.
“It gives customers another place to shop,” Vickery said. “We are open to the free enterprise system and want customers to have choice.”
Kris Mulkey, Director of Public Relations for BevMo!, said the retailer has not met any resistance from local retailers and said the company looks forward to offering more choice to local consumers and is proud to have brought jobs into the area.
“We have hired locals for both our Silverdale and Tacoma stores,” Mulkey said. “Our district manager, regional buyer and many other employees are all from Washington.”
Glyn Correll, co-owner of Ralph’s Red Apple at 6724 Kitsap Way in Bremerton, said he was not concerned about the retailer’s presence in the area.
“I don’t think it will affect us in any way,” he said.
Roxanne Pella, Manager for Northwest Liquor and Wine in Silverdale said, “I think it will affect us a little, but then again I think we have a great location, and I think we will hold up.”
