Bottoms up (cheaply): 99 Cents Only to add beer and wine
Add one more place to go for that cheap beer or wine fix.
Local 99 Cents Only stores are working to bring beer and wine sales to the Las Vegas area. The chain is seeking approval from the Las Vegas Planning Commission to sell the products in three of its 15 area locations: 1200 S. Decatur Blvd., 45 N. Nellis Blvd. and 1155 E. Charleston Blvd.
Company spokeswoman Maider Izeta said some of the chain’s Southern Nevada stores have received approval from their jurisdictions, but none is selling alcohol yet. Some stores in Arizona and California began selling beer and wine this year.
“The response has been positive. Adding beer and wine to our stores allows us to offer our customers a place where they can truly shop us first for everything. We are pleased to be moving in a direction where we can offer quality, convenience, variety and low prices,” Izeta said.
There’s some resistance to the idea in Las Vegas, albeit not much. Out of 599 notices mailed for the South Decatur Boulevard store, only two protests were received locally. More than 1,250 notices were mailed for the North Nellis store, and three protests came back.
The Las Vegas stores measure 25,000 to 35,000 square feet each. On Jan. 9, a new 99 Cents Only store is slated to open at 3258 Las Vegas Blvd. North.
Walgreens added alcohol sales in Las Vegas a little more than two years ago. In an email, corporate spokeswoman Emily Hartwig said the pharmacy chain was responding to customer demand.
“Our customers appreciate a one-stop shopping experience, where they can buy a range of products at one location rather than having to travel and park and pay at a variety of different stores. In this way, we make all of our products and services more accessible by making them more convenient. In moderation, adult beverage products have become part of the American mainstream and customer demand has grown,” Hartwig added.
Contact reporter Laura Carroll at lcarroll@reviewjournal.com or 702-380-4588. Follow @lscvegas on Twitter.
