New Garysburg ABC store celebrates with ribbon-cutting

Details: Lance Martin; News; 22 November 2024; 512

User Rating: 3 / 5

The Northampton County ABC Board ushered in the opening of the latest store with a ribbon-cutting and tasting this afternoon.

“With the help of (Northampton County Board of Commissioners) Chairman Charles Tyner and economic development Director Derrick Bennett, they made it possible for us to bring this new revised, improved self-service store to Northampton County,” said county ABC Board Chair Iris Williams.

The store is located off Highway 46 near the Interstate 95 intersection in Garysburg.

“What it will bring will be more revenue to Northampton County, more capability for travelers on Interstate 95 and people in the Garysburg, Gaston and Pleasant Hill area,” Williams said.

The self-serve store, which allows customers to browse, includes what Williams describes as an “awesome variety of new alcoholic beverages. We have an awesome connection with new distributors that are contacting us daily. We look forward to bringing a whole new program of alcoholic beverages to Northampton County that has never been here before.”

View the embedded image gallery online at:
https://rrspin.com/news/9762-new-garysburg-abc-store-celebrates-with-ribbon-cutting.html#sigProId6d1d6bdba0

Occupying what was a former Burger King restaurant beside the Shell convenience store, the new ABC store offers better parking. “We also have the asset of law enforcement with the Northampton County Sheriff’s Office who will be here because they always travel this area.”

The project has been in the planning for about a year, Williams said. “When I joined the board in Northampton County, Chairman Tyner came to me with the possibility. We were looking at several areas, several possibilities and then this building became a possibility. Looking at different designs, we realized this would be the best fit for us.”

Currently, the ABC board is leasing the building from the county with an option to buy. “We could not have done this without the help of the Northampton County Board of Commissioners. We certainly thank them and appreciate them for the opportunity.”

Store General Manager Mia Turro said the Gaston store will close eventually. “We’ve been letting customers know to come and check out our new location.”

She said the walk-in, self-service aspect of the store helps the customers. “People want to come in and touch their items, look and read.”

What sets the store apart is that there are so many new products, Turro said. “That was my main focus when stocking the store to make sure we were getting things that you might see when you’re on vacation or on the west coast or north or south.”

The store is stocking 400 brands of liquor. “We have different bottles so one brand will have their basics and then they might brand out and go into fruit and whatnot. We want to make sure everything is here for both men and women.”

There is also a shelf at the store dedicated to Weldon Mills Distillery products.

Turro plans to do occasional tastings at the store as well. “I want people to come in here and taste the new flavors.”

The store has 14 employees and is open Monday through Saturday from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m.

Turro came onboard in August to take over operations. “This is my very first project doing anything like this. Although I have 14 years of ABC experience, this is a whole other beast for me.”

Tyner told the audience, “I just want you to know things like this happen because we put a lot of time into it.”