Liquor Stores may get makeover

The Nashua Telegraph and Union Leader run Travis Anderson's piece for the Associated Press examining the history of liquor sales in New Hampshire, and Commissioner Mark Bodi's push to revamp the system by consolidating power over alcohol sales in his hands:

In New Hampshire, a run for Johnny Walker Red in 1934 felt like a trip to Red China as customers passed written orders to clerks in drab warehouses. Tim Sink, president of the Greater Concord Chamber of Commerce, says that system lasted into the '60s and '70s.

"The stores were tucked away in these seedy areas of downtowns," he said. "It was almost like we were ashamed that they were there."

Large stores now sit just off Interstate 93 in Hooksett and at key entry points from neighboring states. Out-of-state buyers account for half of sales, and Lynch wants to lease restaurant space near the border stores – at welcome centers – to give travelers another reason to stop.

"If we are honest, these welcome centers are not very welcoming," he told lawmakers.

Bodi wants to spruce up 25 stores over the next five years but says it will take longer if he can't streamline contracting. In one extreme illustration of that problem, he said delays getting a contract approved meant it took months to fix a broken store window recently.