2008 Woodie Awards
Steck's may close to allow for new liquor store
Mike Wilder
Issue date: 1/23/08 Section: News
Steck's Liquor Store on Main Street may not be open too much longer, according to a City Hall official,.
Steck's owners Rick and Kathy Vultagsio will be transferring Steck's Class A beer and liquor license over to a liquor depot that is to be a part of the East Towne Development project on Bluff and East Milwaukee streets.
"When the store is constructed, the license will have to be transferred to the liquor store in East Towne Development," Whitewater City Clerk Michelle Smith said.
Smith said the city of Whitewater can only have four Class A beer and liquor licenses at a time, so the owners of Steck's would have no choice but to transfer the license when the project is completed. The other three Class A licenses are currently held by Sentry, Westside Liquor and Acorn Beverage.
The license will be transferred to the new store owner, Stan Yerges of Fond du Lac. Yerges, formerly of Whitewater, said the new "Red Onion" grocery store will put emphases on healthier eating habits.
"It is a grocery store with emphasis on healthier food," he said. "It won't be an organic food store, but it definitely will have healthy food."
Yerges bought the liquor license from the Vultagsio. The Vultagsios are currently the developers of the new project.
"It is 90 percent done deal," Yerges said. "We are a little behind but we are looking to [be finished] July 1."
Yerges said it is his hope to provide the community of Whitewater with more options in grocery shopping selection than Sentry Foods.
"Not that they are a bad corporation, but it is more than a one-horse barn," Yerges said.
The project coincides with the July 1 deadline for liquor licenses in the city.
All liquor licenses must be renewed by July 1 and are valid until June 30 of the next year, Smith said.
Steck's owners renewed the liquor license in the summer of 2007. The July 1 deadline gives the owners time to transfer the license to the new liquor depot without closing down Steck's until the project is near completion.
Steck's owners Rick and Kathy Vultagsio will be transferring Steck's Class A beer and liquor license over to a liquor depot that is to be a part of the East Towne Development project on Bluff and East Milwaukee streets.
"When the store is constructed, the license will have to be transferred to the liquor store in East Towne Development," Whitewater City Clerk Michelle Smith said.
Smith said the city of Whitewater can only have four Class A beer and liquor licenses at a time, so the owners of Steck's would have no choice but to transfer the license when the project is completed. The other three Class A licenses are currently held by Sentry, Westside Liquor and Acorn Beverage.
The license will be transferred to the new store owner, Stan Yerges of Fond du Lac. Yerges, formerly of Whitewater, said the new "Red Onion" grocery store will put emphases on healthier eating habits.
"It is a grocery store with emphasis on healthier food," he said. "It won't be an organic food store, but it definitely will have healthy food."
Yerges bought the liquor license from the Vultagsio. The Vultagsios are currently the developers of the new project.
"It is 90 percent done deal," Yerges said. "We are a little behind but we are looking to [be finished] July 1."
Yerges said it is his hope to provide the community of Whitewater with more options in grocery shopping selection than Sentry Foods.
"Not that they are a bad corporation, but it is more than a one-horse barn," Yerges said.
The project coincides with the July 1 deadline for liquor licenses in the city.
All liquor licenses must be renewed by July 1 and are valid until June 30 of the next year, Smith said.
Steck's owners renewed the liquor license in the summer of 2007. The July 1 deadline gives the owners time to transfer the license to the new liquor depot without closing down Steck's until the project is near completion.
Be the first to comment on this story