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Monday's opening of the Cedar City liquor store makes four of 10 construction projects completed in a state alcohol monopoly boom that stretches along the Wasatch Front and into southern Utah.
When the new Cedar City store opens its doors, the outlet at 356 S. Main St. is scheduled to close. The last day of business for the old store is today, from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m.
All store openings have been low-key.
Ribbon cuttings or announcements could be construed as advertising, say state liquor-control officials. State law is so strict against advertising that liquor stores were not listed in business white pages until 2007.
The next store scheduled to open is in Hurricane.
Construction of this store, on the corner of Foothills Canyon Drive and Canyon Cliffs Boulevard, should be completed before the holidays, perhaps by the week of Dec. 7, said John Freeman with the Utah Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control.
"Overall, construction is moving ahead, and several projects have come in under projected costs," said Freeman. "But we have had some delays."
Many of the sites were not ready for construction because roads, gutters and utilities were not completed in time, said Freeman. Seven liquor outlets will be anchor stores in new developments.
Construction has been repeatedly pushed back for the Holladay store, which will be built at the at the corner of Highland Drive and Murray-Holladay Road.
Construction also is behind on the store in Springville, located on the east side of Interstate 15 at 1600 North, next to the Maverik store. The February opening date is now scheduled for April.
And the store in Pleasant Grove, slated to be completed before the holidays, is now expected to open sometime in January.
Completed projects include the State Wine Store at 1605 S. 300 West and a remodeled outlet at 1255 W. North Temple St. Both Salt Lake City stores opened last November. The remodeled Taylorsville store at 3905 W. 5400 South opened in January.
In addition to the $35 million store-expansion project, the liquor department also is remodeling its 10-story warehouse at 1625 S. 900 West in Salt Lake City.
The expansion is fueled by brisk liquor sales.
On the day before Thanksgiving alone, statewide receipts totaled $1.75 million.
"It was a busy, busy day," said Freeman.
Cedar City » The outlet at 356 S. Main St. to close when the new store on Providence Center Drive opens on Monday.
Hurricane » The store on the corner of Foothills Canyon Drive and Canyon Cliffs Boulevard to open in early December.
Holladay » The Kentucky Avenue outlet to close in April when new outlet opens at Highland Drive and Murray-Holladay Road.
Bountiful » The old store at 70 S. 500 West will close when a new outlet at 500 W. 400 North opens in April.
Pleasant Grove » The store in Dana Point Shopping Center, 595 S. Pleasant Grove Blvd., to open in January.
Springville » This store on the east side of Interstate 15 at 1600 North to open in April.
Heber City » The outlet at 262 Gateway Drive is scheduled to open by the end of December or first week of January.
Source: Utah Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control
Overall, liquor sales this fiscal year totaled $267 million, up from $257 million for 2008.
The state's liquor monopoly, which controls the sale and distribution of alcohol in Utah, also brought nearly $100 million in taxes to state and local coffers, said DABC spokeswoman Sharon Mackay.
