Aspen set for Sunday booze sales

ASPEN — Aspen’s purveyors of liquor will open their doors on Sundays, starting this weekend, for the first time since the waning days of prohibition.

Local liquor stores are planning Sunday hours in response to new state legislation, effective July 6, that lifts Colorado’s so-called blue law prohibiting retail liquor sales on Sundays. The law dates back 75 years — to the end of prohibition. Licensed bars and restaurants weren’t impacted by the Sunday ban, but the consumer looking to grab a six-pack from the local liquor store has long had to remember to stock up on Saturday. Not anymore.

While liquor stores aren’t required to open their doors on Sundays — or any other day of the week for that matter — area retailers intend to give Sunday operations a shot, though most will open for limited hours. The Wine Cellar at Carl’s Pharmacy, however, will be open from 8 a.m. to 10 p.m. on Sundays.

Others, including Aspen Wine & Spirit, of Grape and Grain, Local Spirits and Airport Liquor at the Aspen Business Center, will open from noon to 6 p.m. The Grog Shop will start with Sunday hours of 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Grog Shop manager Roger Carlsen believes the Sunday hours will bring in business.

“There have been enough times when I’ve been in here on a Sunday doing paperwork and people are pulling on the door,” he said. “We’ve already had people say they’re going to come in on Sunday — just because they can.”

Sunday operation will be an experiment at of Grape and Grain, according to Jon Chaplin, a partner in the store.

“We think we’re going to close [Sundays] in the offseasons, but if it’s busy, who knows,” he said.

At Local Spirits, manager Scott MacCracken expects a busy day on the inaugural Sunday of operation, given it’s the Fourth of July weekend.

“I think it will be worth our while to be open during the summer season,” he said, though he’s not so sure about offseasons.

Whether the move is good for business year-round or not remains to be seen, but MacCracken thinks the state’s lifting of the Sunday prohibition is a customer-friendly move.

“I think it’s good for the visiting consumer,” he said.

Around the upper valley, a sampling of other liquor stores indicates many will take advantage of the opportunity for Sunday sales, as well.

Daly Bottle Shop in Snowmass Village will be open Sundays from 3 to 8 p.m. and Sundance Liquors in Snowmass will be open from noon to 6 p.m.

Snowmass Creek Liquors in Old Snowmass will be open from noon to 6 p.m.

Jimbo Liquors in Basalt plans Sunday hours of 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Willits Wine and Liquor will be open from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. — “just to see how it goes,” said a spokesperson there. The Alpine Liquor Store in Basalt will be open from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m.

El Jebeverage in El Jebel will be open from noon to 6 p.m.

janet@aspentimes.com