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General News: Wine Store Owner Opposes Proposed Law
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| Kenn Brodmerkel gathered signatures on a petition opposing the sale of wine in groceries stores. |
February 20, 2009
Cornwall wine shop owner Kenn Brodmerkel is going on the offensive to defeat a proposal allowing groceries to sell wine in New York State. The proposal is part of Governor David Paterson’s proposed budget and his office says it will bring $105 million in additional revenue to the state in the first year through the sale of new licenses and added taxes. That figure would drop by half in subsequent years.
In the past week, Brodmerkel has collected hundreds of signatures on a petition that he plans to deliver to lawmakers next Wednesday in Albany. Brodmerkel has been talking to customers in his wine shop at Cornwall Plaza and he says that most are concerned that sales to minors would increase if the change goes through.
Under the current state law, liquor license holders are restricted to operating in only one location. Brodmerkel says this was intended to foster a greater sense of responsibility in each store, where operators would be careful not to sell to minors and jeopardize their license. He says that the large grocery chains, with cashiers who are underage as well, will be less careful to require proof of age from people buying wine. That’s why groups including law enforcement officials oppose the proposed change as well.
The bottom line of the opposition by wine sellers statewide, however, is economic. They say competing against the large grocery chains, including Wal-Mart, will put 1,000 small wine shops out of business and add another 4,000 people to the unemployment line. There are currently 2,400 wine stores in New York.
Kenn Brodmerkel, whose store carries one of the best wine selections in Orange County, says consumers can expect the grocery stores to stock only widely available wines that they can purchase in bulk at lower prices than he can buy on his own.
The bill contains no incentive for groceries stores to purchase wines from local vineyards or small wineries, although the New York Farm Bureau has endorsed the proposal, saying it could be a boon for some wine producers in the state. Grocery store owners favor the change as well, saying that consumers will find lower prices and more convenience in grocery stores while sales will increase, adding to the coffers of the state. They also point out that 35 states already allow wine sales.
Winemakers on Long Island have organized against the bill and Jan Palaggi, who runs Palaia Vineyards in Highland Mills says she is against it, too. “It’s not good for wineries or small businesses like ours that depend on customers coming here,” she said recently. “I don’t have a distributor so it won’t get sold in a grocery store.”
On Wednesday night, Brodmerkel met in Newburgh with a group of wine store owners to plan their lobbying effort. They were joined by state senator Bill Larkin, who says he is opposed to the governor’s proposal, too. He predicts a negative impact on the local economy if the measure is adopted and says the state doesn’t need more places selling liquor.
Brodmerkel says that if grocery stores are approved to sell wine, his 22-year-old business will suffer and his customers will, too. “Would I survive? Yes. Would I be able to support the breadth of wines I have today? No,” he said earlier this week, noting that he would have to raise the price of liquor to compensate for the lost revenue. That’s why when he heads to Albany next week he plans to visit as many lawmakers as he can.
Comments:
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Well, the big chains have screwed the small shop owners before; the hardware store, the pharmacy, the bakery, the butcher shop, the cobbler, the book store, the ladies' clothing store, the gift shop, the general store, the appliance store, the shoe store... I hate going to Walmart, Kmart, or the mall, just to shop for hours and never find anything unique or well made or even close to what I want. Oh yeah , let's run out to Key Food for a nice chard...
posted by Kate Benson on 02/21/09 at 12:28 AM
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Kate,
Cornwall's Keyfood and 5 others in New York are being shopped for a buyer right now. I guess it's Shoprite or everyone's "friend" WalMart. So another small business, the wine store goes out of business, people lose their jobs and another empty storefront. It's a terrible shame what's happenning. BTW, everyone should head to Ken Brodmerkel's store and sign his petition.
posted by P W on 02/21/09 at 2:39 PM
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Too bad we cant get a Whole Foods put into the space where Keyfood is. I think that is a business that would do well in Cornwall.
posted by Melissa Vellone on 02/21/09 at 8:46 PM
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I would love to see the old CVS filled with a 'market-style' group of vendors instead of trying to shove one more chain store or fast food restaurant in our faces.
Every one of the stores I mentioned existed here in Cornwall not that long ago, ok - long ago, when I was a kid -
posted by Kate Benson on 02/24/09 at 11:00 PM
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