I don’t know about other states, but Georgia for many years identified all of its liquor stores as package stores in a dubious attempt at propriety, an extension of its so-called “Blue Laws” which made sure no intoxicants were sold on Sundays. Georgia politicians, privately suspected to be passionate consumers of spirits, have historically been more than willing to pander to their constituents with such asinine regulations. They were fooling no one, of course. Hence the importance of the drive through, which allowed those downlow politicians and church folk to be as discreet as possible.
The only reason I photographed this place was this sign, which definitely caught my attention. It reads: “Clean & sober means I’ve had a bath and on my way to the liquor store”.
Pennsylvania also has (had?) package stores, for beer and wine. The harder stuff is sold in “state stores” run by the PA Liquor Control Board. This retail division dates to the early 1930s.
One of my sisters-in-law grew up in Broxton, many years ago. When i forwarded this post to her to ask if she was familiar with the store (tongue in cheek; she grew up a Baptist, and does not imbibe0, she responded by saying that a friend of her late father’s once owned it. When i then asked if that meant she ever got any “free samples,” she laughed and no. But that everybody in town was surprised when the fellow became an active member of DeBerry Baptist Church nearby. She said he was a genuinely nice man.
Peggy’s parents, and most of her extended family, were members of DeBerry; she and my brother got married there in 1979, and held both of her parents’ funerals there in recent years. A small church with a lot of nice people in the congregation; I have been there three times over the years, but don’t remember the liquor store.. Brian photographed it in an earlier post.
Growing up as a younger kid, I often stayed with my grandmother on Saturday nights and it was a ritual for me to ride with her to the local package store and get her half-pint of Four Roses via the drive-thru. I think the most exciting part of the trip for me was the bell that would ring when our tires ran over the black hose just like at the gas station. Such great childhood memories. Thanks for posting, Brian.
Heh heh……. great sign. (And the place looks to be for sale, too !) In the state where I now live, such establishments are called “ABC Stores”…all are tightly owned, operated and managed by the state. (Alcoholic Beverage Control)
I had a friend who was getting up in years and did not like to drive….if he knew I was coming his way he would phone me and ask if I would stop at the “Alphabet Store”) and pick up a bottle of his favorite hooch.
I guess one man’s Package Store is another man’s Alphabet Store.
Carry on, Brian.