Tag Archives: Georgia Liquor Stores

Package Store, Broxton

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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”.

Telmore, Georgia

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This abandoned “county line”* package store and a nearby church are all that remain of this crossroads community located between Dixie-Union and Millwood. Telmore never had a post office, so the name may have just been a local designation. Thanks to James Kennedy for the identification.

*-So-called “county line” liquor stores weren’t always on the county line, but were very near it; this was a business model that took advantage of its location in a “wet” county, reaping the benefits of the citizenship of a bordering “dry” county.

Package Store, Pembroke

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This package store just outside Pembroke was originally owned by James Olan Butler, and later sold to John Futch.

Nakomis, Georgia

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Raymond Clark writes: HORNE STORE. Georgia Hwy 96 (Fall Line Freeway) near Peach/Crawford County line. There were two Horne Stores.The one pictured here was the former liquor store and where the white truck and pecan trees are on the right of photo is the former store/former owner’s home which was demolished by fire. From the 1960s to 1980s the store did a lot of business with good ole Mr Horne’s bbq, potato salad and home cooking. People from businessmen to students at Ft Valley State University to folks done from picking peaches for the day from Lanes and Pearson Farms bought beer and liquor here.

 

Johnson’s Package Shop, Garfield

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Kathy Johnson Dixon notes that this package store was established by Carl Johnson and is still owned by his son, Richard. One doesn’t encounter many old liquor stores like this any more and it’s a bit of a landmark.

Scotland, Georgia

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Main Street in Scotland features buildings from various time periods. I found it quite unusual that city hall (beige building, left) is located next door to a liquor store (red building, center). Scotland is a neat little town, out of the way for most travelers but worth a look. Settled after the Civil War by Scotch Presbyterians, Scotland was first known as McVille, for the ancestry of most of the first residents. The name was changed at the request of the railroad to avoid confusion with nearby McRae. Though he left as a young man and entered service in World War I, my maternal great-grandfather, Burt Herman Browning, was born here in 1892.