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A US Airways jet is seen during a rainstorm at McCarran International Airport on Monday, Oct. 3, 2011.
Thursday, Dec. 22, 2011 | 2 a.m.
Sun Archives
- County set to OK liquor store at McCarran baggage claim (10-18-10)
- Plans advance for liquor store at McCarran (8-03-10)
- Liquor store at McCarran baggage claim? County delays decision (7-20-10)
- Are liquor sales set to take off at McCarran? (7-18-10)
- McCarran wants OK for liquor store in baggage claim (2-16-10)
Developers have yet to break ground on McCarran International Airport’s first liquor store, more than a year after winning approval from county commissioners.
In August 2010, Lee’s Runway Liquor won the right to build a liquor store next to the escalators leading from the D gates to the baggage-claim area. Two other companies also bid.
Now, the company has until Dec. 30 to start construction, airport officials say, or the airport will consider it to be “in default.” At that point, if construction doesn’t start within 30 days the commission will be asked to terminate the liquor store agreement.
Lee’s Discount Liquors operates liquor stores throughout the county. Executives with knowledge of the company’s plans could not be reached for comment.
When the project was proposed in February 2010, Commissioner Steve Sisolak cautioned liquor sales at the airport might lead to drunken tourists making the short drive to their hotels.
But financial concerns seemed to have the momentum. As a so-called enterprise fund department, the airport is kept afloat financially by fees and rent. The airport needed revenue from the liquor store to help weather bad economic times, officials argued.
In July, commissioners approved giving Lee’s Runway Liquor the nod over two other bidders — Liquor Library LLC, with manager/member Richard Worthington; and Binna LLC, with managing member Amer Ramo.
Part of the allure of the contract was that it offered a chance to operate the only liquor store of its kind in a travel destination that likes to think it offers tourists a one-of-a-kind experience. Beyond duty-free stores that sell liquor, county officials believe no U.S. airport leases space in or near a baggage claim area to a liquor outlet.
Worthington, who is also president of the Molasky Group of Cos., came in second in the bidding to Lee’s Runway in part because of Lee’s experience in the business. He said he would still be interested in pursuing a store at the airport if Lee’s doesn’t move forward.
“We spent a lot of time on the brand and the idea, and we think it’d be great for the city and the airport,” he said.
Sisolak said commissioners have the right to decide if they want to put the project out for bid again or simply award it to the second-place bidder. “I’d rather it just go to the second-place bidder and maybe change some of the benchmarks for getting it done so it doesn’t take so long,” he said.
Commissioner Tom Collins also said he’d like to give it to the second-place bidder.
“We already had the debate on whether or not liquor should be sold at the airport,” he said. “If it brings in more revenue and the customers want it, we should do it.”
Who wants to take bets on first drunk to be tazed at the airport?
I can understand having some concerns about drunk drivers. But, it's a liquor store at an airport. How many people drink in a liquor store? Or, why would someone hang around the airport instead of leaving for their hotel as soon as they can? They aren't going to be tipsy driving to their hotel, they're going to drink it when they get there. It saves them the time they'd spend trying to find a liquor store near their hotel. If anything, I think I'd be more concerned about the ones getting drunk on the plane that's leaving.
I have to say as a visitor who loves Vegas you really should be getting hold of this. One of the worst aspects of Vegas is the airport. It has no facilities and this puts us off. We have tt check in hours before and there's nothing there! Please, get a grip and do something with it..
Saying people will get drunk from the store to their hotel is akin to saying people will get drunk from the store to their house. The rational is completely baseless.
Charge people for crimes they've committed, not for crimes they MAY do in the future.
DarthFrodo comments: "It saves them the time they'd spend trying to find a liquor store near their hotel." In case you haven't been to many of the hotels on the Strip or Downtown lately, just about every hotel has at least a bar, and many also have boutiques where you can buy a half pint or more. Then of course, there are the corner drug stores which seem to abound within short walking distance. It's about as easy to find as a slot machine.
Nothing worse than seeing tourists checking in to Strip resorts carrying a 12 pack on their shoulder. A little class please.
For many of the tourist who live in "dry counties," this will be a real convenience for them and a boon for the Las Vegas economy. Every dollar found, helps our local economy.
So get to building this business and service please. Thank you.
Blessings and Peace,
Star
"Saying people will get drunk from the store to their hotel is akin to saying people will get drunk from the store to their house. The rational is completely baseless.
Charge people for crimes they've committed, not for crimes they MAY do in the future."
GREAT COMMENT! I'm so used to right and left wing talking points and/or negative, negative, negative on this board... this comment really stood out!
Nice!
Lee's has near Monopoly in Vegas anyways.
I Say ^&%^$ them!!!
Give it to #2!!!!!
Question: How in the heck did commissioners give them almost 1 1/2Yrs to "Start" construction anyways????
Who's sleeping here!!
Cancel Lee's contract
Now we're back to normal around here!
Follow the $$$$$$$$$$$$$$?