A new booze-ness venture for the Old Brick Store

There will be no more last-minute panic for Charlotters who get all the way home and realize they don’t have any vodka in the house—or is that just me? The Old Brick Store debuted a selection of spirits this week after they received final approval and inspection for the state of Vermont to operate as a licensed liquor outlet.

Old Brick Store owner Whitney Finley said that she didn’t initiate the process with the Department of Liquor Control; last year, when the state department put out a call for applications from the Charlotte and Ferrisburgh area, officials said they were looking to fill a void. Finley said they eventually approached her and asked if she would be interested, and that the final choices for the state came down to the Old Brick Store and Spear’s Corner Store.

With a shiny new cash register and independent point of sales software supplied by the state specifically for liquor sales, the Old Brick keeps its regular hours. Finley said that though the profit margin on liquor sales isn’t huge, she hopes the financial benefit will be significant from increased foot traffic.

“I hope it’ll bring a lot more people in,” she said.

According to Finley, “carefully curated” selections in the liquor area include the usual suspects like gin, vodka, and rum, including many local and specialty versions like Smuggler’s Notch Distillery and several maple-based spirits. She said they found out about the license approval about three months ago, and that customers have had “a mixed reaction” to the possibility of mixed drink ingredients so close to home.

The Old Brick Store remains committed to their usual offerings, like pizza, sandwiches, grocery goods, and coffee, and this is one more option for customers. “You don’t have to buy it, but it’s here,” Finley said.