[geeks] trader joes

[nate at portents.com]

> nate at portents.com wrote:
>>> Phil Stracchino wrote:
>>>> As far as I know, they wouldn't have to.  Supermarkets can sell beer
>>>> and
>>>> wines in NH.  They just can't sell spirits.
>>> That, and there are Trader Joe's stores that serve no kind of alcohol
>>> at
>>> all.
>>
>> I'm not sure that's by Trader Joe's choice - in the state of MA, chain
>> stores (such as Trader Joes) are capped at a total of 3 locations in the
>> whole state which can have "off premises licenses."  (Still better than
>> what the blue laws used to be here...)
>
> As may be, but my point was that it hasn't stopped Trader Joe's from
> opening stores in states like Massachusetts and Connecticut where they
> have locations with no alcohol at all.  Why it should stop them from
> opening up in New Hampshire escapes me.

Like I said in two other replies, I think it's the combo of the state of
NH acting as wine wholesaler (MA and CT don't have socialist liquor laws
like that), and maybe the fact that NH state liquor stores could gain the
ability to sell Trader Joe's hard liquors while Trader Joe's stores could
not (I'm not sure what rights NH state can exert when it comes to hard
liquor distribution rights though, I only know about them acting as wine
wholesaler).

- Nate