Westminster Liquors will hold its grand opening Saturday, Aug. 15, in the Englar Road space that closed as Rite Aid Liquors, according to a news release from owner Tom Welliver. The store, at 140 Englar Road, Suite 7, opens to customers at 9 a.m.
Welliver told Westminster Wire that he and a group of local investors negotiated a lease to acquire the space and all the fixtures. "We heard the disappointment from the community after Rite Aid [Liquors] closed," Welliver said in the release. "We are excited to open at this beloved location, featuring hundreds of beers and wines and more than 300 liquor brands."
All of Rite Aid Liquors' management and many of its staff members are returning to work at Westminster Liquors, according to the release. In a text exchange with Westminster Wire, Welliver said three to four key employees from the old store are coming back.
Welliver said the new store is two to three times the size of any other liquor store in Westminster, which he said will allow it to carry a wider selection while remaining easy to navigate, with wide aisles and less in-store product advertising than a typical liquor store. He said the company hopes to operate on lower margins than competitors and expects to negotiate better prices with distributors as its sales volume approaches the old store's levels. Welliver said customer feedback about the previous store centered on three things: ease of shopping, selection and pricing.
The ownership group holds a majority stake in the business, which Welliver said matters for quality control and operational incentives. In addition to Welliver, it includes the owner of the now-closed Carriage House Liquors on Main Street and each of Westminster Liquors' two store managers. Welliver said the Carriage House owner's investment in the new company, Westminster Liquors LLC, included transferring his liquor license from the Carriage House to the new entity. Six other local business owners have also invested in the company, Welliver said, but are focused on broader business decisions rather than day-to-day operations.
Saturday's grand opening will include a ribbon cutting by the Carroll County Chamber of Commerce, giveaways, refreshments and sale pricing across the store, according to the release. The company also plans to donate beverages at cost to local nonprofits for fundraisers. "It's a great way to give back to this amazing community, in a way that will really make a difference," Welliver said in the release.
Westminster Liquors will be open 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday through Saturday and 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday. More information is available at WestminsterLiquors.com.