Preview: Southwest Minnesota liquor sales yield mixed profits

Talk about it

WORTHINGTON — Several area liquor stores suffered net losses in 2007, according to an Analysis of Municipal Liquor Store Operations released Tuesday by the Office of the State Auditor.

But others — including Jackson, Lakefield, Luverne, Pipestone, Worthington, Windom and Wilmont — reported net profits for their city-owned liquor stores.

In fact, Worthington was ranked 40th in gross sales on a list of the 214 Minnesota cities with municipal liquor stores, netting a profit of $241,949 in 2007.

That money goes to finance store operations and into the city’s general fund, said Worthington City Administrator Craig Clark, adding the money was not targeted toward any specific purpose.

Sean Johnson, manager of Worthington Municipal Liquor Store, said business is up this year too, even as the economy slumps. He attributed the 2007 profit to Worthington’s extra “residents” that year, workers on projects such as the ethanol plant and windmills. Some project laborers remain today.

In the past, he was also able to take advantage of retailers’ bulk discounts by combining the Worthington store’s purchases with those of Marshall Municipal Liquor. Not anymore, though.

“All the companies have lowered their (prices) to where I can buy it myself now,” he explained.

Tags: news, worthington, jackson, lakefield, luverne, pipestone, windom, wilmont, liquor, sales