Boxcar Liquors is here: A new era begins this week, as the city’s former municipal liquor store building closes and a new one on the highway opens
By Per Peterson
Box cars are a pretty typical sight in Tracy, have been for decades. But on Highway 14?
Last Thursday, two very prominent box cars could be seen on the highway, only these weren’t carrying any product to some far-off destination along the DM&E railway. These were more artistic than practical, but will stand as symbols for the City of Tracy’s new municipal liquor store — Boxcar Liquors — in the building that was once home to a gas station and convenience store.
Work at the new liquor store has been ongoing for months, and the store is expected to open today (July 1), with a grand opening likely later this year. City workers have been busy for the last week pouring concrete for the parking lot, and G & R Electric is handling getting everything wired up, including the highway sign.
“Moving to the highway here is huge,” Tracy City Administrator Erik Hansen said. “Not only will it result in an increase in sales, but it also kind of sends a message to the public that Tracy is open for business — we want people to come to town and spend money here. We put a lot of work and effort here for that reason.”
Liquor store manager Tam Schons said the move has been quite a process.
“It’s a lot of work,” Schons said. “We have a great team though; we had the back room packed up in no time. My team rocks — they all worked together. The beer guys came and helped, one of the liquor companies came and helped move a lot of stuff.”
Also helping out with the move were members of the Tracy Fire Department, as well as city councilman George Landuyt.
See this week’s Headlight Herald for more on this article.