Utah’s first multistory liquor store opened in downtown Salt Lake City earlier this month, offering a new place for consumers and showcasing local breweries products. 

The store has two levels because of its smaller size in the heavily urban area. But the additional level allows aisles to be wider with more selection. The new store will feature an expanded refrigeration section for cold beer, which is something not offered in many state-run stores until a recent policy shift by Utah’s Department of Alcoholic Beverage Services. They will also feature a special section dedicated to Utah-made beers, wines and spirits. 

The 14,500-square-foot building is five years in the making. State legislators agreed that the aging Utah State Liquor Store No. 1 had served its purpose and it was time to find a new place for it. 

This brings good news to breweries in South Salt Lake with their own crafted beer. 

“The local brews section brings attention toward our product and other locally crafted beers making it more likely for consumers to engage with us and find new beers they love,” said Gus Erickson, owner of Epic Brewing in South Salt Lake. “Most privatized stores like grocery stores prefer to display national brands like Anheuser-Busch or Molson Coors over local products. The local brews section is actually a huge and uncommon win for the UDABS.”

Erickson believes the new liquor store will have an overall positive impact on the brewery. It may bring in customers that tried their beer from the new store. 

The new store will boast another unique trait besides offering local refrigerated beer. It will also feature a section showing artifacts dating back to the 1800s. These are items found during the store’s construction that showcase what was in the area over the decades. 

The store is expected to generate millions of dollars in the next year, with nearly $5 million going to state and local governments to help fund things like roads, transportation, education and health. 

It will be open Monday-Saturday from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. at 151 E. 300 South in Salt Lake City.  λ