Look inside the new state liquor store on Foothill Drive in Salt Lake City

A new liquor store in Salt Lake City’s Foothill neighborhood was a long time coming.

Department of Alcoholic Beverage Services director Tiffany Clason, who spoke at the Monday opening of the store, said area residents had “waited patiently” for a new permanent location.

“The temporary store operated for five years, and I think all of us were more than ready to have this permanent location,” Clason said.

The new store, at 1615 S. Foothill Drive, contains 13,230 square feet of floor space. It’s only the second state liquor store to have two floors, according to a news release; the first is the downtown Salt Lake City liquor store at 151 E. 300 South, which opened last June.

Some of the new store’s features include extended hours (the new store closes at 10 p.m.; the old store closed at 7 p.m.); a cart return in the parking lot; a dedicated “will call” area for restaurant and bar owners to get the products they need; a refrigerated section upstairs; and a Proudly Utah section with Utah-made products.

“This new store will benefit all Utahns, whether or not they drink alcohol, with the financial contributions it makes, helping to keep taxes low and fund crucial services such as roads and transportation, public safety, education, and health programs,” Clason said.

In its first year of operation, the new Foothill store is expected to make $3 million, Clason said: $572,000 for Salt Lake City and Salt Lake County, and $2.3 million for the state of Utah, portions of which will go toward underage drinking prevention and the school lunch program.