New big box stores are trying to give Costco a run for their money as the battle for your booze dollars heats up.
Amit Kaushik just bought Bellevue Crossroads’ former state-owned liquor store after two other previous auction sales fell through.
“We paid $70,000,” he said. “We could’ve gone a little higher … $100,000 or a little more.”
But Kaushik bought the liquor store knowing he’s already got stiff competition just a few minutes away as a Costco looms nearby.
Costco poured millions of
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New big box stores are trying to give Costco a run for their money as the battle for your booze dollars heats up.
Amit Kaushik just bought Bellevue Crossroads’ former state-owned liquor store after two other previous auction sales fell through.
“We paid $70,000,” he said. “We could’ve gone a little higher … $100,000 or a little more.”
But Kaushik bought the liquor store knowing he’s already got stiff competition just a few minutes away as a Costco looms nearby.
Costco poured millions of dollars into campaigns to privatize the state’s booze business. But Costco’s investment helped create its own big box competition.
Total Wine is a mega-store that just opened in Bellevue on Thursday. It’s one of several now setting up shop in our area. But how do prices compare?
We looked at several liquors and wines at Total Wine versus Costco. For example, a 1.75 liter bottle of Jack Daniels was $27.99 — $5 less than Costco.
A bottle of Chateau St. Michelle Gewurztraminer was about 50 cents cheaper than Costco.
In fact, Total Wine was cheaper for every liquor and wine we randomly priced. High-end champagne Dom Perignon priced the same — at $129.
Shopper Vern Lyter says Total Wine has something Costco doesn’t — huge selection.
“I’m learning a lot of wines I didn’t know existed,” he said.
However, when it comes to a variety of products, Costco has the specialty stores beat. But where does this leave your local wine merchant in your own neighborhood?
“They know me by name when I come in,” Lyter said.
And it’s that type of personal service that may ultimately help the little guy compete.