SALT LAKE CITY (ABC 4 News) - The state paid them $100,000 dollars to come up with a new plan for selling alcohol in Utah.
And now these consultants have figured out a way (maybe) to lure a popular Trader Joe's grocery store to Utah.
These are the same consultants who came up with the idea of putting grocery stores and liquor stores in the same area in Utah.
Now, consultants Bob and John Springmeyer have designed a new alcohol map for the state.
It shows where liquor stores are - where they're not – and the location of grocery stores in Utah.
It's supposed to help the DABC figure out where to put new liquor outlets.
http://bonnevilleresearch.com/dabc/index.htmlConsultant John Springmeyer told us,
"If the grocery stores are there, chances are that's a pretty good commercial, retail location and liquor stores ought to look to capitalize on those areas."
Tuesday, these consultants told the DABC that grocery stores and liquor stores are natural partners.
This is why they want a trial program for Utah, one allowing groceries to own and operate nearby liquor stores.
John Springmeyer says,
"I think it's a recommendation which deserves a test."
The consultants point to the liquor outlet in Salt Lake's Avenues District.
While owned by the state, it's right underneath a Smith's grocery store.
So ABC 4 started to ask,
"Would it be possible for Trader Joe's to open a grocery store and next door...”
But John Springmeyer jumped in,
“Have a Trader Joe's owned and operated package agency? Under my interpretation of the package agency rules...absolutely."
(DABC Package Agencies are smaller liquor stores)
Then his dad, Bob Springmeyer, chimed in:
"Well, I think we can have a Trader Joe's in Utah. As John said earlier, we could but you would probably have to walk next door to buy your Two Buck Chuck."
And in case you’re wondering, there are now more than 3,400 members on the Facebook page,
“
Trader Joe’s Should Go the Distance…Salt Lake City.”
It’s a page devoted to bringing the store to Utah.
Follow Chris Vanocur on Twitter: @cvan4
