Wade and Chrissy Blankenbaker are hoping to get lucky — that is, with the opening of their new liquor store, Lucky’s Liquor.
By BRYCE MARTIN
Pioneer Editor | [email protected]
Wade and Chrissy Blankenbaker are hoping to get lucky — that is, with the opening of their new liquor store, Lucky’s Liquor.
But what they hope will set their store apart is an extra-wide selection, contemporary atmosphere and special events, all catered to those 21 and up.
“We pride ourselves on being unique,” Chrissy Blankenbaker, 34, said.
As active members of the community, the Blankenbakers, who reside in Bowman, sought to bring something new to the area. Opening a liquor store in a place with several already, however, was going to be a challenge. One of the best ways to ensure its relevance would be to offer something different for customers.
The couple didn’t shy away from that task, as they believed they would be able to offer something beyond the norm.
The biggest distinction of Lucky’s, according to Chrissy Blankenbaker, who will manage the store — while maintaining her full-time position at Southwest Heathcare Services — is the plan to offer wine tastings, something not seen in the immediate area. Those tastings will highlight the store’s extensive variety.
It will also provide education on the gamut of alcohol-related items, such as food pairings and keeping up with the trends of the industry.
“What people are drinking, what they’re pairing different selections with, those are some things we will be knowledgeable about and relay to our customers,” said Blankenbaker.
She cited plans for the store to host regular special tasting events, wine of the month clubs, and a space to host special events for those with more adult tastes.
The store’s environment will also lend appeal to customers, with a large, open floorplan — 2,000 square feet of sales space — and an inviting, intriguing style, she explained.
“It will be a place for people to come, sample, hangout, and explore,” she said.
Lucky’s is located immediately north of Subway along Highway 85 in Bowman. Construction on the new building has progressed quickly, with the footings already poured.
Blankenbaker said she plans to have the store open before New Year’s, one of the chief holidays to include alcohol in celebrations.
“We’ve already gotten excellent feedback from community members,” she said.
She acknowledged that the two are mindful of the store’s surroundings — a church, schools, residential neighborhoods — but she stressed that the goal is to keep the store safe and clean, while helping ensure the adult beverages don’t fall into the hands of the underage.
The location was crucial, however, as it takes advantage of the highway traffic and, as she explained, prime land in Bowman is difficult to come by. They wanted to remain local in Bowman, where they’ve lived and raised their three daughters for the past 11 years.
“Bowman is our home. It’s what’s important to us,” she said. “And we wanted to add something valuable to the community.”
With such a large assortment of wine, beer, liquor, mixers and barware, though, the two, along with their two silent partners, are seeking to extend their service over the wide, tri-state region, all the while doing what they can to give back and support their communities.
The permitting process on both the city and state levels has gone smoothly so once construction is complete, Lucky’s will open its doors and begin to provide exceptional service and variety for its customers, all with a modern, top-of-the-line flair.
