By Tom Hintgen, Fergus Falls Journal
Bob Leslie thought he'd never see the day that the Pelican Rapids city liquor store would finally move to a much-needed new location. After literally years of delay, a grand opening will be held over four days from April 11-14.
"People knew we were cramped for space in our former location in downtown Pelican Rapids," said Leslie. "Here, at our new location on North Broadway, we have 5,100 square feet of space. That's a far cry from the old location where we had only 1,500 square feet."
The grand opening over the four days in early April will include wine and beer tasting from 4 to 7 p.m. at the store that's situated at 130 North Broadway.
"We purposely waited until April since some of our customers who reside at the nearby lakes will be back in Pelican from down south," said Leslie. "We want as many of those folks as possible to be part of our grand opening."
Hours at the new city liquor store are from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday through Wednesday and from 9 a.m. to 10 p.m. Thursday through Saturday. Leslie has four people who work part-time.
The new liquor store is located across from Good Samaritan Society (senior living), along North Broadway in Pelican Rapids. The site is on land once used by a service station. One of the hurdles in recent months, before construction got underway, was completing work with the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA). Contaminants had been found, underground, but they were later deemed minor, according to the MPCA.
Sundance Companies of Hastings, Minn., built the new city liquor store. They had the low bid of $394,000.
The decision to move forward with a new city-owned liquor store received city council backing in November 2008. Council members, after talking with their constituents, determined that the project would be a good long-term investment for the community of Pelican Rapids.
City Administrator Don Solga said the new location allows for better service and more parking. The new building, he said, also adds to the positive changes that have already taken place on main street in Pelican Rapids.
Solga said that in recent years Leslie and his employees did the best they could in cramped quarters in the old building that's now for sale along main street. He said that he and council members are pleased with the new facility.
